Over the past 30 years I’ve witnessed many strange and unusual events during my pest control career. Let me tell you one story that is sure to knock your socks off. Early in my career, I had the pleasure of treating one of the oldest insects, dating back over 200 million years. These creatures have wings, six legs, two antennae and like to eat sweet and floury foods. They live in dark, wet places and are the most common household pest. What are they? German cockroaches.

One morning, around 2:30am, police were responding to a complaint of a barking dog in Schenectady, New York. When they arrived, they were literally ankle deep in what came to be known as the largest infestation of German cockroaches in the country. The cockroaches had spilled out into the street, up into the trees and in surrounding neighbor’s yards. We were called in immediately by the Board of Health to remedy the infestation. As soon as we opened the door to the home, cockroaches came raining down from the ceiling, spilling out onto our feet. The house was completely saturated. There were cockroaches living in every square inch of the home. A 64 year old woman, two dozen dogs, over a dozen cats, two mice and a parrot were all found inside, all badly bitten by cockroaches and fleas.

We had to treat the three block radius surrounding the infested house, including all neighboring homes, lawns, trees, sewer lines and even the police vehicles and ambulances that carried the woman and her pets out. Some of the pets were so badly harmed that they did not survive. The house was ordered destroyed and the residents were charged with cruelty to animals. As the building was being torn down over the next few days, we had to use power sprayers to kill and control the spread of the cockroaches. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed. Definitely not your average infestation.

They have been around for centuries. Their ability to adapt to any environment and take advantage of any favorable situation makes them a success story in nature. Then add to this the fact that they are omnivorous. Sadly, the nifty biological characteristics that makes them so successful has made them difficult to control. Have you guessed who they are yet? The German cockroach.

The German cockroach is also known for being a professional “hitchhiker” causing them to be part of the upwardly mobile of the insect world. Their choice of harborage (cracks and crevices) provides them with the perfect environment to do what they do best, “multiply”. The female carries her eggs under her abdomen until they are ready to hatch (called gravid). She has a large number of eggs per capsule or ootheca, from 30 to 48 to be exact. They have the shortest period of development before becoming sexually mature. More of the nymphs are likely to hatch with the potential for higher reproduction. Once she drops her ootheca the next one begins to form within a couple of weeks.

The following information will stress the importance of good sanitation along with harborage elimination (sealing cracks and crevices as well as removing clutter, etc.). The adult can live about a month without food, however young nymphs will die of starvation within 10 days. On the other hand, without food and water theadults will die in less than two weeks. Adults have been known to cannibalize their young or each other when food is in short supply. And you thought your relatives were bad.

So, the next time someone says to you they only saw a single cockroach, just advise them that they are all married and have plenty of children. Which is why they have been “designed for survival”.