Which roaches fly

About 55 types of cockroaches live in the U. Several species are capable of flight for short distances, while others use their wings to simply glide, rather than flap their wings to fly. Cockroaches such as Asian, brown, smokybrown and wood roaches are very capable fliers, but others, such as American cockroaches are a species that commonly uses its wings to glide.

Australian cockroaches are present primarily in the Gulf Coast area and are adept flyers. Asian cockroaches, which can be found in warm areas such as Florida, and closely resemble the German cockroach, are capable of flight. German cockroaches and Oriental cockroaches , do not fly at all. Cockroaches that are capable fliers are often attracted to interior lights and are able to fly inside.

However, because these pests are nocturnal, infestations often go unnoticed at first. This means that many people aren't aware that cockroaches can fly until the insects become so numerous that they appear during the day. Warning signs of a cockroach issue include a musty smell, waste, and cast shells. Cockroaches in the house can present a variety of challenges for residents. Flight allows the pests to fly or glide indoors, spread throughout homes, and hide in hard-to-reach areas.

They are not equipped for sustained flight, but some cockroaches do fly at times to reach food. Monitor attractive areas, like under sinks or refrigerators, and use baits to control cockroach populations. Caulk any cracks and crevices and install door sweeps. When disturbed, adult males will take flight. Where they hide: These roaches prefer warm, dry spaces, such as on the upper walls of cabinets and inside pantries, closets, and dressers.

They prefer to stay far away from water sources. Control tips: Place sticky traps where you suspect these cockroaches are hiding, such as near a wall or in the corner of the floor, shelf, or drawer. You also can treat the areas with baits containing hydramethylnon , fipronil, sulfluramid, boric acid, or abamectin. Target areas where the traps have collected cockroaches. Wood cockroaches are about an inch long, chestnut brown, flat, oval-shaped, and have long antennae, tan wings, and spiny legs.

Females have short wings and rarely come indoors. These roaches enter homes after coming to the porch light and crawling under the door. Where they hide: Wood roaches live outdoors in moist, woody areas such as woodpiles and mulch, or under loose tree bark and decaying logs.

Control tips: Since wood cockroaches struggle to live inside, you rarely need treatment within your home. Just remove these cockroaches with a vacuum or dustpan and discard them.

Seal cracks and openings, ensure your door and window screens are in good condition. The Asian cockroach entered the United States in , likely from the port of Tampa. These two cockroach types are practically identical, both in size and color. It has more to do with the design of their bodies. Often roaches fly to escape a threat. Some cockroach males become active flyers during breeding season, when they travel short and long distances in search of a mate.

They become especially attracted to light during this time, and are known for their summer nighttime assaults against well-lit rural window screens.

Cockroaches also fly in search of food and shelter, which might include your home. Roaches living in a hollow tree for instance, might climb up its branches looking for food. Then take a short flight to the roof of your house to infest the decaying leaves in your gutter.

These flyers live in a variety of environments and climates, though most prefer to live outdoors. Both small and large cockroaches fly, and range in size from the huge, awkwardly flying American cockroach up to 2 inches in length or more , to the tiny, occasionally flying German cockroach which is smaller end-to-end than the face of a penny.

Flying cockroaches come from a variety of places, many of them the same as their non-flying relatives.

But flying cockroaches have a few more options available to them. They can come from trees, flying onto branches and then onto rooftops. Once on the roof, they can squeeze between shingles or through the gaps in an attic fan.

They can also come in through open windows and doors. They might be following the light of a lamp or a TV screen. If your window screens have tears in them, a cockroach might be able to climb through it. Flying Cockroaches can be harmful because they often carry bacteria from waste and decaying material into homes and businesses. This is true of all cockroaches, flying or not. They feed on garbage and dead organic matter, making them a risk to your health if they start invading your home.

They either fly toward you accidentally, or head in the wrong direction in their hurry to avoid getting squashed. And the light reflecting off your forehead or face can do it, too. Can cockroaches fly right at your face when that happens? You bet they can. Flying cockroaches aren't necessarily dangerous when they're gliding toward you. However, cockroaches themselves can be dangerous.

They generally don't bite or cause any kind of direct harm to you, but they can contaminate anything they touch or walk across, potentially spreading E. Coli and salmonella. Cockroaches, including dead cockroaches and cockroach parts, have also been known to trigger allergic reactions and asthma in some people. If you have a cockroach infestation in your home, professional help is recommended.

Different cockroach species respond to different types of treatment. And when you see cockroaches in your home, there may be more hiding. A trained pest control professional knows how to find the cockroach infestation, identify the species you're dealing with and customize an effective treatment plan to get rid of them and help keep them from coming back. Bed bugs are travelers. Before moving into your mattress or settling down in your nightstand, they may have lived in a hotel, office, school or other place where people gather.

Because bed bugs can attach themselves to clothes, furniture, luggage and even your pets, they can also hitch a ride in your car, rental vehicle, taxi or rideshare. This gives them easy access to anything you transport with you and a free ride to everywhere you go, including your home.

But there's a reason why this saying is so old and so well known: bed bugs have been around for a very long time. These pesky insects have recently seen a resurgence in population and now, it's more likely than ever that you or someone you know will eventually deal with some kind of bed bug infestation. Suddenly, that phrase takes on a whole new significance!