If you’ve lived in Florida for any amount of time or even vacationed there, you’ve probably seen a cockroach. Especially if you live in the central Florida area where things are very woody and swampy. That’s why today, we’re going to touch on the Tampa Cockroach, what species you may run into, and what you can do about potential infestations. If you’re already dealing with an infestation, scroll to the bottom to see how you can get our help in dealing with that today.
Tampa Cockroach: Overview
Florida is a state that is absolutely inundated with cockroaches. I’m sorry to just come out like that, but it’s a fact of life in the sunshine state. Tampa comes first in the nationwide roach competition. That’s right, of all the metro areas in the United States Tampa comes in at number one, with more than a third of houses at any time dealing with cockroach infestation. The American Housing Survey says that surpasses even other more populated tropical areas like Miami and south Florida.
So it goes without saying, this is one of, if not the, most common home invading pests in the state. They’re very troublesome in areas where food is abundant, but really all they need to sustain a population in an occupied home is a few leftover puddles or leaky water pipes, as they can go for tremendous amounts of time without food.
Cockroaches do not live in centralized nests or colonies like ants, bees, and termites. However, cockroaches do congregate in distinct areas in response to aggregating odors in their feces. The droppings appear as pepper-like specks in areas of current or former activity. The spotting is similar in appearance to that of bed bugs but can usually be distinguished by location or by other signs of infestation.
Unfortunately, the long and short of this is that you’re going to have to deal with cockroaches at some point if you live in Tampa. So let’s touch on what species you may run into and how bad the infestation may be.
Tampa Cockroach: What species of roach live in Tampa?
In Florida, we have anywhere from forty to sixty species on any given year depending on the state of invasive species and weather patterns. But, only a few of those are home infesters. So, let’s start with one that you’ll undoubtedly see at some point because they’re both indoor and outdoor roaches.
American Cockroaches in tampa
Starting off we have the heavyweight kings of roaches that go into people’s homes. These bugs average about one and a half inches in length. But larger members of the species can reach up to three inches. It is reddish brown to brown, with a pale yellow band around the edge of the area behind the head. Adults have well-developed wings but seldom fly. The nymphs are smaller and lack wings but are otherwise similar in appearance.
These cockroaches prefer dark, moist areas, such as in basements and crawl spaces. They often congregate in floor drains, sump pumps, pipe chases, and laundry areas, as well as boiler rooms, steam tunnels, and sewer systems. During warmer months, they can also be found outdoors in yards and around trash containers. American cockroaches often travel long distances from their aggregation sites; long-term relief requires finding and treating these areas.
German Cockroach
Next, we have the worst home infester of any Tampa cockroach. And it’s known as the German Cockroach. Roaches of this species are by far the most common that you’ll find in homes. They thrive in the presence of humans but are almost exclusively found living near them. That means they may have evolved to live off of our waste exclusively.
You can recognize this species by its light brown to tan coloring. They have two dark, parallel stripes that run down the length of their bodies. Females are slightly darker than males. They have wings but thankfully cannot fly well.
German cockroaches require warmth, moisture, and food, which is why they are most common in kitchens and bathrooms. Preferred hiding places include cracks and crevices under sinks and toilets; beneath/behind refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves; near trash containers; and inside cabinets and pantries. German cockroaches also congregate in clocks, toaster ovens, and other heat-producing electronic equipment.
This species is a brutal home invader for a few reasons. They’ve been implicated in the outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people. Tampa cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces.
And once they’re inside, females only need to mate one time in their entire lives. After that, that same female can produce roughly three hundred thousand eggs just from using the cached semen from mating. So just one of these pests getting into your home is cause for concern because she can be a walking infestation starter.
How to deal with a Tampa Cockroach infestation
Well, there are a few things you can do to reduce the number of roaches in your home. And good sanitation is key to that. To prevent German cockroaches from infesting a home or business, people should maintain a clean kitchen by cleaning up crumbs, wiping spills, and vacuuming often. Avoid leaving dishes to pile up in the sink. It is also essential to seal all entrances to the structure, especially around utility pipes, and ventilate crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.
But outside of that, there’s not much you can do on your own. These tiny pests tend to live in places untrained people wouldn’t suspect. So if you want help from a natural pest control company that has been serving the Tampa area for thirty years, feel free to call at 1-800-634-1313 or visit us at insectfree.com for a free consultation and get help with your Tampa cockroach problem today.
