Turkestan Cockroach California

Turkestan Cockroach is an invasive species that have replaced native oriental cockroaches as most common pest in residential outdoor areas of California, due to their faster maturation cycle and greater egg-laying capacity. Turkestan cockroaches usually don't form indoor colonies, they are likely to infiltrate buildings during the summer months when they are searching for food. In this article, we will talk about Turkestan cockroaches, and teach you how you can deal with them.

What is Turkestan Cockroach

Turkestan cockroach (Blatta lateralis), known as the red cockroach or red runner cockroach, is a type of outdoor cockroach native to Northern Africa and Central Asia. Adult cockroach is around 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Male Turkestan are very thin and brownish-orange or crimson, they also have wings that they can use to glide. Adult females are bigger than males and have vestigial wings that are shorter. They have a dark brown to black coloration with cream-colored markings on their shields and a cream-colored line outlining their wings.

Habitat

Turkestan cockroaches are commonly found outdoor, but can sometimes stray into your house. Male Turkestan cockroaches are more likely to venture indoors due to their ability to fly and attraction to sources of light. Turkestan cockroaches are nocturnal, meaning they are more active during night. They can be found beneath stones, in wadis, desert farms, and damp crevices and exhibit a preference for moist environments. In residential areas, they are seen in concrete raises, cracks, crevices, and hollow block walls.

Distribution

The Turkestan cockroach is native to Central Asia, the Caucasus Mountains, and parts of northeastern Africa. They can be spotted in other countries like Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kashmir, Libya, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE, and even in the United States.

Introduction to the United States

The Turkestan cockroach was first found in the United States in 1978 in the former Sharpe Army Depot area in California. According to researchers, Turkestan cockroaches arrived in the United States on military hardware returning from Afghanistan or Central Asia. In less than a decade, they have replaced common oriental cockroaches in urban areas of the southwestern United States. While initially documented in the Northeast, they have established themselves well in the Southwest and some parts of the Southeast.

How They Spread Across California

Due to their ease of maintenance and rapid reproduction, Turkestan cockroaches are sold as food for pet reptiles. However, the fact that these roaches are transported throughout the nation daily permits them to continuously infiltrate and infest new regions.

Risks

Turkestan cockroaches, like any other cockroach species, can seriously harm people's health. They transmit bacteria, parasites, and diseases that can cause serious illness, and their excrement and saliva can aggravate allergies and asthma in people. They also contaminate places used for food preparation and food sources. For the health and safety of your family as a whole, you should keep Turkestan cockroaches out of your house.

Solution

If you are dealing with a cockroach infestation, using the following tips might help you.

1. Keep outdoor areas clean to control cockroaches, as just using pesticides won't solve the problem.
2. Reduce water use, fix leaks, and avoid excessive moisture near your home. Moisture will attract more cockroaches.
3. Don't leave pet food outside and regularly seal trash in closed containers to avoid cockroaches.
4. Seal cracks and openings to prevent cockroach entry, using door sweeps and intact screens.
5. Maintain landscaping, trim shrubs, clear litter, and don't forget to seal cracks to reduce cockroach hiding spots.
6. Use indoor sticky traps near doors. They can be used to monitor and track cockroach populations.
7. Choose baits over sprays for better cockroach control and avoid indoor foggers or aerosols.
8. Avoid treating public drains or sewers; contact local agencies for sewer-related issues.
9. Seek professional help for severe cockroach infestations that you can't manage on your own.

Conclusion

Turkestan Cockroach is an invasive species that has replaced native oriental cockroaches as the most common pest in residential outdoor areas of California. Due to their ease of maintenance and rapid reproduction, Turkestan cockroaches are sold as food for pet reptiles. They usually don't form indoor colonies, they are likely to infiltrate buildings during the summer months when they are searching for food. They transmit bacteria, parasites, and diseases that can cause serious illness, and their excrement and saliva can aggravate allergies and asthma in people.