Cockroaches in Ohio

Residents of Ohio know the fright of seeing a cockroach in their homes all too well. Native to the state, the American cockroach is one of the creepiest pests in Ohio, preferring warm and humid areas such as bathrooms, basements, and near water pipes. These roaches can also be found congregating outdoors near buildings, woodpiles, and in moist soil or mulch. Their hardy nature makes them resistant to most insecticides, making it difficult to get rid of them while they reproduce quickly if not properly exterminated.

Are there Cockroaches in Ohio

Ohio is home to many different types of insects, but are there any cockroaches? While it’s commonly assumed that cockroaches inhabit every corner of the world, this isn’t actually true. In the United States, only a handful of species of cockroaches are native to Ohio. The most common is the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana), which can grow up to 2 inches in length and prefers damp or humid environments. They may occasionally enter homes looking for food or water, and while they can be unpleasant visitors they don’t generally cause disease or damage.

Habitat

Ohio is home to several types of cockroaches; however, the most common species found in human residences are American and Oriental cockroaches. These types of cockroaches thrive best in filth and prefer humid and moist environments such as basements and drains. When they infest a home or business, they tend to congregate near kitchens and bathrooms because of their attraction to water. Although cockroaches can adapt to a wide range of climates and living conditions, they typically favour dark, confined spaces that are close to sources of food. 

Diet

They enjoy eating their way through gardens, compost and leaf piles, garbage, pet food and leather goods. In fact, these creatures are incredibly resilient scavengers who will feed on just about anything (except for citrus). The good news is that this omnivore diet minimizes the chances of your home becoming infested with these household pests. On top of that, it maximizes control given that an exclusion-based approach isn’t recommended when it comes to discouraging cockroaches from gaining access to your home. 

Size, Lifespan and Weight 

Cockroaches come in different sizes, usually ranging from around a quarter inch to an inch in length, although larger species have been observed by entomologists. With the correct environmental conditions, these insects can live for well over a year. Perhaps more surprisingly, some Ohioan cockroaches have been known to weigh as much as three grams.

Reproduction

In Ohio, cockroaches reproduce in a variety of ways depending on the species. They typically remain reproductive year-round, and the female can lay up to 18 eggs per capsule which can be laid 5-8 times in her lifetime. German cockroaches are the most common species in Ohio and reproduce the most quickly; their reproduction cycle can last only 46 days. Generally, cockroaches mate during the warmer months and then produce a cluster of around 30 eggs that attach to surfaces like walls, furniture or food packages and take about two months to fully develop.

Predators

Despite their reputation as one of the hardest pests on the planet, cockroaches in Ohio certainly have predators. Small species like the German cockroach have to contend with frogs and spiders, while larger species such as the American cockroach fall victim to birds, snakes, and lizards. Even breeds of other insect species like ants actively hunt down some types of roach. Humans are also part of this equation –with a variety of traps, sprays, baits, sticky boards and even specially designed bio-control agents being used to manage or eliminating roach populations in homes and businesses across Ohio. 

Bugs that look like Cockroaches in Ohio

Ohio is home to many species of bug that look similar to the common cockroach. One of the most prevalent ones is the oriental cockroach, which has been observed in Ohio since at least the 1970s. These roaches are about an inch long and brownish-black in colour. Other bugs that can often be confused for cockroaches include the wood roach and the smoky brown roach. While wood roaches are slightly larger than oriental cockroaches, smoky brown roaches are early twice as big and have a dark chocolatey-brown colouration. 

Reference:

https://www.1stresponse.biz/pest-library-cockroaches

https://www.generalpest-ohio.com/pest-identification/german-cockroaches/