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Cockroaches:
The most common cockroach species found in Ontario are the following: German, American, Brown-banded, and Oriental. Cockroaches represent a serious public health risk for residents and food processing businesses - they are known to carry E. Coli, and Salmonella bacteria, and can cause food poisoning. German Cockroaches They measure between 10 mm and 15 mm long. They can be tan to near black in colour. Despite having wings, German Cockroaches, are barely able to fly. German Cockroaches generally have a lifespan of 125-150 days. The egg-to-adult cycle takes approximately eight weeks in general. Females leave eggs in egg cases of around 40 eggs. An adult female can produce close to 300 eggs in her life span. German cockroaches live in all kinds of human habitats, but are more commonly seen in kitchen and bathroom areas. Their optimal living environment is warm and moist. German cockroaches feed on food debris, and are attracted to fatty foods. American Cockroach: They are five cm long and are the largest of the four most common cockroach species. American cockroaches are reddish brown in colour and have a yellowish band around the edges of their pronota (the area adjacent to the head). They are able to fly. These cockroaches take 6 months to 2 years to develop from the egg stage to an adult. An American cockroach's adult life span is generally between 1-1.5 years. Females lay their eggs in capsules of about 15 eggs. The egg capsules are brown in colour and 8 mm long. An adult female lays about 10 egg capsules in her live span. They live primarily in kitchen and bathroom areas, under drains, pipes, appliances, and cabinets. They feed on decaying organic matter, but when facing a shortage food can eat almost anything. They are also commonly found in restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores. Brown-Banded Cockroach: They are close to 15 mm long. They have light-color bands around their wings and across their bodies. These cockroaches have fully developed wings and are capable of flying well. These cockroaches develop from the egg stage into adults in 100 days to a full year. An adult life span is 4 to 10 months. In this period a female cockroach lays up to 15 capsules of up to 18 eggs each. Unlike other cockroach species, brown-banded cockroaches prefer dry environments. Brown-banded cockroaches live inside furniture, closets, and cabinets. They usually hide in places closer to the ceilings and away from water. Brown-banded cockroaches primarily feed on glue, wallpapers and similar material with high starch content. Oriental Cockroach: They are around 2.5 cm in length, and darker in colour than other cockroaches (usually dark-brown to black), and with greasy looking bodies. Females have smaller wings than males. But even males are unable to fly with their more developed wings. They are a relatively lazy species. Oriental cockroaches take 0.5 to 3 years to grow from the egg stage to an adult. Their adult life span is usually 30 weeks to a year. An adult female produces close to 200 offspring in 8 to 15 capsules each containing around 15 eggs. They live in dark and moist areas, often around sewers, drains, and other damp areas in kitchens, bathrooms and basements, and primarily feed on garbage. They prefer to live in colonies. |
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