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Archive for the ‘Roaches’ Category

Why These Little-Known Cockroach Pests Are Becoming Increasingly Problematic In Louisiana

Since cockroaches are among the most commonly encountered insect pests within homes, many people likely assume that a relatively high number of roach species inhabit the US. Surprisingly, only around 70 cockroach species have been documented in the US, the majority of which remain outdoors and are not considered pests. More than 4,500 cockroach species have been documented worldwide, and most species dwell in tropical locations where the humid climate and abundant vegetation provide the insects with the nourishment they require.

Considering North America’s temperate climate, it is not surprising that a relative few roach species dwell on the continent. In fact, just about every roach pest species in the US is a non-native species that originated from a more tropical environment, mostly east Asia and Africa. While the most common and widely distributed cockroach pests in the US, like German and American roaches, first arrived in North America centuries ago, many exotic roach species are still inadvertently transported into the US today. In subtropical Louisiana many newly introduced cockroach species are thriving, and some have already become pests of homes and buildings.

While not the most recent non-native cockroach found in Louisiana, the pale bordered field cockroach was first discovered in the US in 1967 after specimens were collected from a clothing store in New Orleans. This cockroach is native to Mexico, and it is considered to be only a minor pest of homes. However, this cockroach species is attracted to artificial white lights within and on the exterior of homes, and they do not have to travel far to access the interior of homes due to their abundance in gardens and landscape mulch.

The Asian cockroach was first discovered in the US in 1986 near a shipping port in Florida, and today, these roaches can be found in the Gulf Coast states. This species is attracted to artificial white lights, and they can establish lasting reproductive infestations within homes. Another recently introduced cockroach species, the Argentine cockroach, is also attracted to artificial white lighting, and they are commonly mistaken for Asian cockroaches due to their similar appearance and pest behaviors. Switching common white light bulbs to yellow light bulbs can prevent the above mentioned roaches from invading homes.

Have you ever found green colored Cuban cockroaches within your home?

What Sort Of Indoor Conditions Allow German Cockroaches To Thrive Within Homes?

Having an infestation of cockroaches likely sits up at the top of most people’s list of worst nightmares. Cockroaches are generally greeted with a scream whenever they are stumbled upon by someone in the middle of the night. German cockroaches are unique in that they are one of a few insect species that has evolved to dwell solely within human homes as opposed to outside in the natural environment. This ties our two species inextricably together in a way that no humans can be happy about. We live side by side with these pests our entire lives, and spend much time trying to figure out how exactly to avoid dealing with them. This makes the understanding type of human habitat German cockroaches prefer to dwell inside paramount to keeping them from residing in your own home.

It probably not a surprise that German cockroaches are most commonly found in areas of the home where food is stored, such as the kitchen, pantry, and other storage areas. Readily available food sources, therefore, make for an important factor involved in where German cockroaches choose to settle down. Food must be abundant for German cockroaches to choose infest an area. This is rather disturbing, as the presence of German cockroaches has been shown to worsen allergies as well as asthma, and if an infestation is large enough, they can even transmit pathogens, germs, and bacteria they ingest or pick up to humans while they are out exploring and foraging in our kitchens and amongst the food we eat. Making sure you keep your house and especially kitchen clean and uncluttered will help control cockroach pests. Depriving them of the food they desperately seek out from our own kitchens can help keep them from infesting your home.

In addition to areas with an abundant food source, German cockroaches gravitate toward dark, warm, and tight areas, preferably where they can maintain constant contact multiple surfaces. Areas that are humid, warm, and have lots of food sources are where they will commonly be found. Keeping your home clean and free of clutter also helps reduce the kind of dark, humid, and tight areas they prefer. Sealing up cracks and crevices, as well as fixing any plumbing issues, will also help lessen these conditions throughout your home and keep cockroaches from using these cracks to enter your house from outside.

Have you ever had an infestation of German cockroaches?

Why Louisiana Has Become The Go-To State For Filming Cockroach Pests

Much like all other states in the contiguous US, the German, American and Oriental cockroach species are the three most common roach pests in Louisiana. However, due to Louisiana’s wet, warm and humid climate, the state is home to a diversity of cockroach species that are well documented as being pests within homes. The brown-banded cockroach species was introduced into the US over a century ago, and today they can be found throughout most of the country, but are most abundant along the Gulf Coast. Another pest species, the smokybrown cockroach, is rapidly increasing its population size in Louisiana, and less pestiferous roach species, such as Turkestan and Surinam cockroaches, are found on occasion within homes in the state.

Multiple surveys have found that New Orleans sees a higher rate of cockroach infestations than any other city in the country. For example, according to the American Housing Survey, a whopping 40 percent of households in the city reported roach infestations during 2015. Although New Orleans does not need any more roach-related publicity, a new horror film about killer cockroaches was naturally shot and set in the city, and a recent video showing massive numbers of roaches climbing over one another within a car in Calhoun has recently gone viral.

Since the video went viral on September 15th, people all over the world have been wondering how hundreds of cockroaches could possibly come to inhabit a parked car outside of a truck stop. However, once it was revealed that the footage was shot in Louisiana, the seemingly unusual footage began to make a little more sense to those who have visited the state. The footage was captured on a cell phone by a random woman who walked past the roach-infested car on her way into a truck stop restaurant. Needless to say, she lost her appetite.

Have you ever found cockroaches in your vehicle?

Rainstorms And Floods Prompt Smokey Brown Cockroaches To Invade Louisiana Homes In Massive Numbers

The German cockroach is the most widely distributed and the most common indoor roach pest species within the United States, and the entire world, for that matter. The German cockroach is one of only two roach pest species in the US that dwell solely indoors, the other species being the brownbanded cockroach. The American cockroach is the second most commonly encountered roach pest species within homes and buildings in the US. This species is notable for being particularly filthy, as they are well known for dwelling within sewers where they sometimes traverse through plumbing only to emerge from drains within people’s homes. The Oriental cockroach is another common indoor pest species in the US, but they are not as widespread as the German and American species. The smoky brown cockroach species is closely related to the American cockroach, but they cannot match the American species in terms of body size, as smoky browns grow to be slightly larger than 1 inch in body length, whereas the American roach can grow to 2 inches in body length. The smoky brown species’ habitat is largely limited to the southeast US, but they can also be found in southern California and parts of the midwest. The smoky brown’s dependency on high-moisture environments make them particularly abundant in Louisiana.

The tropical storm Barry, which is currently causing flood conditions along the Gulf Coast, is causing smoky brown cockroaches to invade homes in massive numbers in the region. Unfortunately, this behavior is typical of smoky browns during heavy rainstorms. According to entomologists with Louisiana State University, the roaches develop a sudden preference for indoor conditions during rainstorms and especially during floods. An example of this phenomenon is well documented in footage posted to Facebook, which shows an uncomfortably large amount of smoky browns emerging from an overflowing storm drain in Louisiana. This footage has gone viral, and has been featured in the media, capturing the fascination and disgust of people all over the world. Smoky brown cockroaches prefer to live outdoors, but they are in the habit of entering homes in order to feed. However, rainstorms and floods make the smoky brown’s typical habitat a bit too wet for the insect’s taste, causing them to invade homes in large numbers to avoid succumbing to rising water levels.

Have cockroaches ever invaded your home en masse during heavy storms?

An Off-Duty Louisiana Health Inspector Visited A Restaurant Where A Cockroach Emerged From His Bowl Of Shrimps A La Creole

It is a good thing that every state employs health officials to inspect restaurant kitchens, especially considering how commonly restaurants are cited for insect-related violations. Anybody who has ever worked in a restaurant kitchen knows how conducive the environment is to insect infestations. The fast-paced work in restaurant kitchens allows little to no time to keep conditions sanitary. After a lunch or evening business rush, pieces of food can wind up in every nook and cranny of a kitchen, requiring hours of cleanup at the end of the day.

In New Orleans where many restaurants are located within historically significant, but outdated buildings, insects like cockroaches and flies can easily gain access to kitchens through structurally compromised areas. The city’s subtropical climate allows urban insect pests to proliferate to staggering numbers. According to a 2015 study carried out by the American Housing Survey, New Orleans sees more roach infested homes and buildings than any other American city. Although restaurant patrons in New Orleans likely understand how difficult it can be for staff to keep roaches out of the kitchen, finding a cockroach within a bowl of gumbo would certainly not be accepted. However, there was a time when serving roach-infested food at New Orleans restaurants was dismissed as inevitable. For example, an old local newspaper article from 1917 described an event in which an off-duty health inspector became disgusted upon find a huge roach float to the top of his soup. Surprisingly, the article’s author sympathized with the restaurant’s staff more so than the patron.

According to the 1917 Times of Picayune article, before an off-duty health inspector took a bite out of his shrimps a la Creole at a popular St. Charles Street restaurant, he noticed that the dish also included a cockroach. While many residents were appalled by the story after it went public, the article’s author was dismissive, as he stated that such events were inevitable in a city so filled with cockroaches. Today, it is well known that roaches can spread a variety of disease-causing bacteria, and the insect pests are less prevalent in restaurant kitchens now thanks to insecticides and other pest control methods that did not exist back in 1917. Luckily, roach-contaminated restaurant food is no longer acceptable.

Have you ever worked in a restaurant that had a pest problem?

Archive for the ‘Roaches’ Category

Why These Little-Known Cockroach Pests Are Becoming Increasingly Problematic In Louisiana

What Sort Of Indoor Conditions Allow German Cockroaches To Thrive Within Homes?

Why Louisiana Has Become The Go-To State For Filming Cockroach Pests

Rainstorms And Floods Prompt Smokey Brown Cockroaches To Invade Louisiana Homes In Massive Numbers

An Off-Duty Louisiana Health Inspector Visited A Restaurant Where A Cockroach Emerged From His Bowl Of Shrimps A La Creole

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