Brown-Banded Cockroach

Description: Brown-Banded cockroaches are about 1/2 inch long when mature, light brown to brown, and have two light, yellow-brown bands running across their bodies; hence, their common name. The pronotum has a dark brown area which is shaped like a liberty bell. Females are darker in color and broader than males, and their wings cover only three-quarters of their abdomens. Wings of the male completely cover their abdomens. The colored bands are much easier to see on nymphs because they lack wings to obscure them. The purse-shaped egg capsule ootheca is light brown, approximately 1/4 inch long, slightly browned, and typically has seven to nine eggs per side.

Biology: During her lifetime, the female brown-banded cockroach produces about 14 egg capsules each of which contains 14 to 18 eggs. The female carries the egg capsule for 24 to 36 hours, then, using secretions from her mouth, attaches it to protected areas, e.g., underside of shelves and furniture and inside televisions and other appliances. Nymphs emerge in about 70 days and molt six to eight times before becoming adults. This require 90 to 276 days. The adults live about six months.

Habits: Brown-banded cockroaches prefer a warmer and drier environment than do German cockroaches. Thus, they are not nearly so common in houses. They are found throughout structures, preferring hiding places up off the floor, e.g., behind crown molding, pictures, tapestries and other wall hangings, and in closets, furniture, appliances, computers and telephones.

Control: Established populations of brown-banded cockroaches are difficult to control because they are found throughout structures and not in areas commonly considered to be cockroach harborages. it is important to inspect thoroughly for these insects in order to find as many of their food sources and harborage sites as possible. Many types of cardboard and plastic sticky traps are available to help pinpoint sources of cockroach infestation and to monitor areas about which occupants have complained but infestations can not be visually detected. Sticky traps are not intended for control but, rather, to guide and evaluate control efforts as part of the inspection process. Visual inspections can be conducted using a flashlight and aerosol pyrethrin to flush cockroaches from their harborages.

An effective cockroach management program depends on good sanitation to eliminate the food, water, and harborage they need for survival. Cleanup to reduce cockroaches in the home and office environments must focus mainly on the food residue in and around coffee machines, microwave ovens, stoves, refrigerators, trash cans, furniture and areas where exposed food is stored. In addition, it is critical to reduce clutter as cockroaches like to hide in stocked boxes, cartons and stored paper and cardboard materials, especially in dark, damp locations near food.

Vacuum cleaning can be used to physically remove exposed cockroaches. Infested equipment may have to be disassembled and/or placed in large plastic bags and treated with carbon dioxide, heat, cold or simply held in the bag with containerized bait until the cockroaches die. The choice of treatment will depend on its potential effects on the equipment.