German Cockroaches (Pictured) are the most common throughout North America and are very prevalent to Northwestern Ontario. Cockroaches tend to infest kitchens, food storage areas, bathrooms, but are capable of living in any portion of a heated structure. German Cockroaches develop rapidly under suitable conditions, are more active at night and if noted during the daylight hours is a sure sign of high numbers.

Larva or Nymphs are dark brown to black in color, with distinct dark parallel bands running the length of the pronotum. Nymphs do not possess wings. The Adult is 10 to 15 mm long, brown to dark brown in color with two distinct parallel bands running the length of the pronotum.

 The entire life cycle is completed in about 100 days. German cockroaches breed continuously with many overlapping generations present at any one time. The German cockroach is omnivorous, eating table scraps, pet food, and even book bindings.

Interesting cockroach facts:

-         Cockroaches have been found in the fossil record as far back as 300 million years.

-         There are about 3500 cockroach species world-wide, about 70 of which are found in North America

-         The largest pest species of cockroach is the American cockroach.

-         Cockroaches are known mechanical vectors of bacteria and other diseases, their fecal material, hairs and cuticle are the source of allergies and asthma for many, and their odor is described as unpleasant, but their most objectionable characteristic is their tendency to appear uninvited. Long considered a sign of poor sanitation, cockroaches are now identified as a public health issue.