How does cockroaches spread diseases

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Traps and lures. Midge Control. Light traps. On-line Enquiry. New Zealand Biosecure Entomology Laboratory. Cockroach Biology Cockroaches undergo incomplete metamorphosis; small wingless nymphs resembling small adults hatch from eggs and develop into winged adults.

There is no pupal form. Nymphs develop quite slowly and in successive stages called instars. Each stage is completed with a moulting of their exoskeleton, which enables them to increase in size as well as revealing newly developed structures, and gradually develop wings. The exact number of moults depends on the species of cockroach. It can take anything between just a few weeks, to over a year for a cockroach complete its growth cycle, depending on species and environmental conditions.

Once the cockroach has reached its final adult form it will not moult again. There are over species of cockroach in the world, inhabiting a vast array of climates, but their basic needs are the same. Cockroach adults may survive without food for extended periods, in some cases up to a month, however like most insects they are susceptible to desiccation and generally cannot survive without moisture for more than a few days.

Male and female cockroaches may be determined by comparing the number of appendages at the tip of their abdomen. Male cockroaches have two pairs of sensory appendages styli and cerci at the tip of their abdomen whereas females only have one pair of cerci. Adult females lay clusters of eggs in a case called an ootheca, which may be dropped or attached to a surface or the female carry around.

Females may lay many hundreds of eggs in a lifetime. Some females mate once and are able to continually reproduce after this one insemination from a male. Males mate with females by attaching a spermatophore to her abdomen. American Cockroach Native Cockroach. Moist, damp, dark and narrow spaces are favoured by cockroach, and they prefer to hide in very small gaps. During the day both the adults and nymphs cluster together and take shelter and in places such as; inside walls, backs of refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, plumbing, inside crevices, in cupboards and behind mouldings and other fittings.

Ideal areas include bathrooms and food preparation areas. The better a site provides for the insect to conceal itself, the more ideal it becomes as a harbourage for cockroaches. Cockroaches also need a fairly warm temperature and moisture. If the environment is too dry then they will quickly dehydrate.

However cockroaches are in general notoriously hardy and many species can withstand higher or near freezing temperatures for a short period of time. Cockroaches impart a foul odour where infestations are well established. Glands on their bodies discharge a malodorous pheromone, which causes aggregation of high numbers.

Cockroaches may disperse to new habitats by crawling or flying, though very often in the case of pest species they are transported around in food sources, in vehicles including ships, and in parts, appliances or fittings they have been sheltering in.

They can survive months without food, and some species can survive up to 4 weeks without water. This can make infestations and the prevention of new infestations difficult to control. Only a small number of the thousands of identified species play a significant role in transmission of disease to humans. These species are well adapted to life inside buildings.

The most important ones are the American Cockroach Periplaneta americana , the German cockroach Blatella germanica , the Oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis and the Smokybrown Cockroach P.

The study also found that cockroach allergy was associated with more severe asthma among elderly asthmatics in New York City. Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening chronic respiratory disease. Unfortunately, it directly affects the quality of life for almost 25 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children. Millions more are impacted as family members of persons with asthma. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers - such as cockroach allergens.

Cockroaches can also passively transport microbes on their body surfaces including pathogens that are potentially dangerous to humans. Cockroaches have been implicated in the spread 33 kinds of bacteria, including E.

Common symptoms include belly pain, severe stomach cramps and tenderness, diarrhea which can sometimes be bloody, nausea and vomiting. Some people can experience severe diarrhea, which will cause dehydration and may require hospitalization. And because they carry bacteria, a cockroach scratch could potentially become infected. According to the EPA, children are more susceptible to cockroach allergies than adults. According to the National Pest Management Association , 63 percent of homes in the United States contain cockroach allergens.

That number rises to between 78 and 98 percent in urban area homes. To deal with cockroach allergy symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter OTC or prescription medications, such as:. If you have asthma , your doctor may also prescribe bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory medication.

Along with professional extermination, you can reduce the cockroach population in your home by limiting their access to water, food, and shelter:. Cockroaches are insects. They have 6 long legs, 2 long antennae, and 2 pairs of wings. Worldwide, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences , there are thousands of species of cockroaches.

Of those thousands, there are only about 30 types that are considered pests. Cockroaches are found on every continent except Antarctica, and there are roach fossils that date back million years.