5 Types of Cockroaches in Australia

Types of Cockroaches In AustraliaPin
Photo by Jesper Aggergaard

Cockroaches, often known as roaches, are any of the 4,600 species among the oldest extant winged insects.

They still resemble the fossils from when they first appeared more than 320 million years ago.

The Spanish word Cucaracha is the root of the English “cockroach.”

The Cockroach has long, threadlike antennae, a flattened oval body, and a shiny black back.

Instead of pointing forward or downward like most other insects, the head is downward, and the mouthparts point backward.

While female cockroaches in some species are wingless or have rudimentary wings, males typically have two pairs of wings.

In egg instances, the female produces eggs (called oothecae). They may be glued in safe spots or occasionally held, protruding from her body.

The delicate white nymphs emerge after the female lays an egg case. Their exoskeleton gets brown as it becomes harder.

Cockroaches are exciting specimens in the biological laboratory due to their structure and size (some species have wingspreads of more than 12 cm [4.7 inches]).

 The Cockroach typically lives in tropical or moderate regions and loves a warm, humid, dark environment. Few creatures have evolved as pests.

The insect produces an unpleasant odor and destroys more material than it consumes.

The roach eats plant and animal materials, including food, paper, clothing, books, and dead insects, particularly bedbugs. Roach control involves the use of insecticides.

Some cockroach species have coexisted with people in various settings, including homes, ships, food production sites, and storage facilities.

The Types of cockroaches in Australia are typically household pests.

These common house cockroaches have been imported there over the past 200 years.

Here are five common types of cockroaches in Australia.

1. Australian Cockroach

Australian CockroachPin
by Bill & Mark Bell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Periplaneta australasiae is the scientific name for the Australian Cockroach. What appearance do Australian cockroaches have?

Australian cockroaches are frequently mistaken for American because they are both brown with a yellow border around their heads.

On the other hand, the body length of this Australian Cockroach ranges from 23 to 35 mm.

Due to its nocturnal nature, this Cockroach typically spends the day lurking in shadowy areas, beneath doors, and in cracks and crevices.

It favors humid and damp locations, such as the outside of your house or where there is access to water (i.e., sinks, drains, etc.).

Indicators of a nymph, adult, or egg cases in your home are the most typical signs of an Australian cockroach infestation.

These cockroaches can disperse bacteria everywhere, including salmonella and e.coli.

Additionally, their waste and feces might cause allergies and asthma attacks. They are one of Australia’s biggest menaces on this list of types of cockroaches.

2. Brown-banded Cockroach

Brown-banded CockroachPin
by cdresz is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Supella longipalpa is the scientific name for the brown-banded Cockroach.

The brown-banded Cockroach, which only reaches lengths of 11 to 14.5 mm, is the smallest of the six species named.

These invading roaches are light to dark brown with wings that span their bodies and are more golden tan or transparent.

Only about halfway down the females’ abs do their branches extend.

These roaches prefer to be dry and warm environments and are predominantly nocturnal. Typically, they seek shelter inside dwellings.

They favor places with lots of hiding spots, including pantries, closets, and, it’s hard to believe, electronics and ready access to food.

There are cockroaches since they are more active at night, although they can also be seen during the day.

A sign of an infestation is the presence of dark brown fecal marks or smears in and around their preferred hangout areas.

Tan-colored egg capsules displaced between cracks and crevices are the last indication of an infestation.

They are known to harbor dangerous bacteria that can lead to gastroenteritis diarrhea and even exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Food poisoning and dysentery may result from the germs spreading to food and preparation surfaces.

3. Smoky Brown Cockroach

Smoky Brown CockroachPin
by Len Worthington is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Also known as Periplaneta fuliginosa, You guessed it—smoky brown cockroaches are smoky brown! It is what we would call rich, lustrous mahogany.

This type of cockroach in Australia can grow between 35 and 38 mm in length, and their wings protrude far beyond their bodies.

We might claim these disgusting roaches enter through holes and crevices but can also fly!

They are nocturnal and typically found outside in protected areas with warm, humid climates, but they will enter buildings in search of food.

A sighting is the initial indication of an infestation. Another indication of an infestation is the presence of feces close to the cockroaches’ favorite spots, along with dark brown egg capsules.

The fecal matter of cockroaches is a sign of infestation. They transfer diseases that can result in significant illness and fear, much like the other roaches described. Keep in mind that they fly!

4. Oriental Cockroach

Oriental CockroachPin
by gailhampshire is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The length of the oriental Cockroach is 20 to 25 mm, and its color ranges from dark brown to black.

Males tend to be smaller and have wings almost completely covering their abdomen, while females typically grow up to 5 mm larger than males but do not have wings.

These cockroaches favor damp, enclosed, dark environments. Because of the plentiful amount of water, Oriental cockroaches are in and around your pipes and drains.

Please get in touch with us soon away if you have leaky pipes. There’s a decent likelihood that you have a cockroach problem!

If you’ve seen one, that’s the most telling symptom of an oriental cockroach infestation!

Watch for egg cases in protected areas of your home and a solid, musty odor if you haven’t already spotted one. The scent gets worse the more prominent the colony is!

These cockroaches in Australia choose locations where they may eat trash and decompose organic waste.

They travel with all these pathogens (e.coli and salmonella) because they crawl through the rubbish.

Onto the food and sanitized surfaces throughout your house, they spread these diseases and bacteria.

5. German Cockroach

German CockroachPin
by Sarah Camp is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

German cockroaches have two prominent dark brown lines running along the border of their bodies. They are tan or light brown.

They only reach 13 to 16 mm lengths, making them smaller than the other six varieties of cockroaches.

These cockroaches are tougher to spot since they move faster and are smaller than the other six species.

These cockroaches prefer damp, dark areas like air ducts, drains, and the corners of bathrooms and kitchens.

These types of cockroaches in Australia are food scavengers. It is usual to see them in storage areas for food, such as cabinets.

Droppings (tiny, dark patches or streaks), egg capsules, and a musty odor are the most typical indications of an infestation. The more cockroaches there are, the greater the smell!

German cockroaches can taint and infect food with an offensive bodily discharge, which can cause allergies and asthma and spread bacteria.

Fun facts about Types of cockroaches in Australia

  1. Cockroaches can go for one month without eating but only one week without drinking.
  2. A cockroach may survive for a week without a head due to a lack of water. They die after one week.
  3. Since they are omnivores, cockroaches can consume almost anything!
  4. A Cockroach has a 40-minute breath-holding capacity.
  5. Even in a clean home, cockroaches can survive in the walls, but they can support larger colonies because more food is available.
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