“Cockroaches are among the most common of insects. Fossil evidence indicates that cockroaches have been on earth for over 300 million years. They are considered one of the most successful groups of animals. Because cockroaches are so adaptable, they have successfully adjusted to living with humans. About 3,500 species of cockroaches exist worldwide, with 55 species found in the United States,” reports Department of Entomology of Penn State.
Furniture Cockroach
“The brown-banded cockroach is sometimes referred as the “furniture cockroach” because it tends to distribute throughout residences, including non-food-containing environments such as the bedroom, under tables, and behind pictures on the walls. This species favors higher resting locations with 92.5% of all oothecae (egg cases) deposited on the upper third of walls. However, several surveys show the distribution range and abundance of this species are declining. Kinfu and Erko conducted a survey in central Ethiopia, which is thought to be the area of origin of the brown-banded cockroach, but did not recover any specimens of this species among 2,240 cockroaches collected in Addis Ababa. Additionally, only 10% of the 4,240 cockroaches collected in Ziway were the brown-banded cockroach. The brown-banded cockroach was the major household pest in Hawaii in a 1948 survey (Zimmerman 1948), but it was about 23-fold less abundant than the German cockroach 37 years later (Toyama et al. 1986). This decline is thought to be caused by the increasing use of air-conditioners, eliminating the ideal temperature and humidity for this species to thrive indoors (Schal 2011),” explains Entomology & Nematology of University of Florida.
You will find Brown-banded cockroaches in dry and warm locations inside pantries, closets, dressers, and furniture in general, near refrigerator motor housings, and on the upper walls of cabinets.
Name
Brown-banded cockroaches get the “brown-banded” name due to the two lighter bands they have on their dark brownish bodies. Roaches with full wings that reach beyond the tip of their pointed abdomens are males. Females have underdeveloped wings that prohibit them from flying. The species can live for approximately 206 days.
Description
“The brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Fabricius), is a small domestic (cockroaches that live their entire life indoors) cockroach species. This species derives its name from two prominent bands present on nymphs and adults. The brown-banded cockroach resembles the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) with its small size and body shape, but it can be distinguished by the absence of two dark pronotal stripes,” states Entomology & Nematology of University of Florida.
Harmful
Brown-banded cockroaches can be harmful to humans in two ways:
- Illness – Bacteria and protozoa cause diseases (such as different forms of gastroenteritis and diarrhea) which can be carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches and deposited on food, utensils, etc.
- Allergies – Cockroaches are recognized as one of the most important sources of allergens, with about half of asthmatics allergic to cockroaches. Allergens from cockroaches can include cast skins and excrement. Some symptoms of cockroach-induced allergies include skin reactions, eye irritation and sneezing, skin reactions.
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