Brown Banded Cockroaches
Quick Stats
- Latin Name: Supella longipalpa
- Size: Small, usually only about 4-10m in total length
- Color: Brown all over, but most notable for the light brown striping on the wings of adults and the body of nymph beetles
- Shape: Long and ovular with large wings and extremely long antennae
- Found in: Brown banded cockroaches prefer warm weather (greater than 80 degrees F) but don’t like humidity. Therefore they’re often found in states like Arizona, Texas, and California.
- Overview: These pests are opportunistic feeders and though they’re most active at night, can be spotted in the daytime. They seek out warmth and often congregate near ceiling lights and electric motors.
About the Brown Banded Cockroach
Like most cockroach species, brown-banded cockroaches are scavengers. Their diet isn’t picky and they’ll eat almost anything – nearly any kind of organic decaying matter will do. They usually enter homes in search of a food source and are most often spotted in kitchens and bathrooms where they find tasty treats.
The most notable feature of the brown banded cockroach species is the presence of several linear stripes that appear brown in color. Adults usually have these stripes on their wings while larvae can display them across their entire bodies. These stripes are one of the easiest ways to distinguish a brown banded cockroach from American cockroaches and German cockroaches.
Brown Banded Cockroaches in Your Home?
This species of cockroach is a prolific reproducer. Since brown banded roaches typically live from 8-10 months, they can create hundreds of offspring in a short period of time. Females lay about 18 egg pouches at any given time, each containing 10-18 eggs. They attach the egg sacks to a protected surface an in a few months a majority of the eggs will hatch, producing hundreds of young roaches.
Because these eggs are so small, they often remain hidden until they hatch. If you suspect you may have a cockroach infestation it’s critical to call a pest professional immediately as finding these hidden egg sacks is the first step to curbing the issue. Signs of a brown banded cockroach problem include sightings of the roaches themselves, dry exoskeletons left behind, and holes in food and dry goods. The brown banded cockroach is more resistant than other species to over-the-counter pest control applications as it’s such a hearty insect. Contact your local pest control provider to find out what to do if you’ve got roaches in your home.