Different Types of Cockroaches in Hawaii

Hawaii is a state in the United States of America, in the Pacific Ocean.

It is an island surrounded by beaches, and a humid atmosphere considered the best vacation spot!

 

On the other hand, it is also home to 19 different species of roaches and Hawaiian cockroaches are considered to be the most troublesome pests.

Unlike other insects and pests, cockroaches rarely bite; these critters are dangerous because of the dirt, bacteria, parasitic worms, human pathogens, and diseases.

Therefore, for safety measures, you must be familiar with their types.

 

Are Cockroaches Common in Hawaii?

Cockroaches in Hawaii are extremely common.

It is not a surprise to see a collection of 20 to 30 of the three-inch-long cockroaches in some areas.

Cockroaches will ruin your stationery, letters, cards, clothes, books, and other valuables; they are also carriers of diseases and maybe the reason you fall ill.

Thus, it becomes necessary to find measures to get rid of them and report any possible infestations.

Just because you do not see the roaches doesn’t mean that your surroundings are not infested.

You must look for the following signs- roach skins (seen near their shelters, as nymphs shed skin), roach feces (cylindrical, tiny with brown or black color), unusual odor (disturbing and pungent), and smear marks (brownish-red spots on the walls, floors, etc.)

 

Different Types of Cockroaches in Hawaii

Everyone knows that when you visit Hawaii, roaches come along with it.

There are various types of cockroaches in Hawaii; this article aims to help you with identifying them so that you take the necessary safety measures.

 

American Cockroaches

This roach has the longest lifespan as compared to the other roaches.

The adult American cockroach can live up to 2-3 years and measures in the range of one to three inches.

It appears as dark-red or brown with light yellow edges on its exoskeleton.

These roaches have wings; the wings of male roaches are typically longer than the body.

The American adult cockroaches can fly.

The female cockroach can lay about 16 eggs into an ootheca which she carries for several days.

Each capsule holds up to eight eggs; to reach maturity, these critters take about 6 to 12 months. Some rare roaches take up to 15 months to fully mature.

Indoors, they prefer dark, humid and empty places with low disturbance levels.

Places like basements, kitchens, roofs, laundry rooms are ideal places where these roaches can be found. 

They are also found in outdoor areas, especially around garbage cans or dumpsters, during warm weather.

The American cockroaches are photophobic like most of their species; they prefer the dark and whenever the lights are turned on, they tend to run away.

They are dangerous as every spot they touch becomes unsanitary and dirty as they are carriers of diseases.

In Hawaii, this is one species you are sure to encounter.

 

German Cockroaches

German roaches are known to be all around the world.

They are light brown and sometimes black; they have two dark stripes running longitudinally on their pronotum, which is the top section of the back.

They are not known to be intimidating and their size is almost an inch.

Due to their size, they can creep into cracks, wall gaps, and creaked corners that are not easily accessible.

They have the quickest rate of reproduction; at a time, the female lays up 35 to 40 eggs which take about a month to hatch.

Once the nymphs (baby cockroaches) are hatched, they take 6 weeks to 6 months to fully mature into German cockroaches.

As they tend to be out of reach and have the quickest reproduction rate, they can cause an infestation so quickly that you would be left wondering.

It is advised that the moment you suspect roaches in your surroundings, you should take precautionary measures.

In Hawaii, these roaches are found indoors, and they prefer wet, moist, and humid conditions.

Hence, they are present near plumbing areas, like bathrooms, kitchen sinks, laundry rooms, etc.

Their legs carry all the dirt and bacteria which makes everything they touch supremely contaminated.

 

Surinam Cockroaches

Surinam cockroaches, also popularly known as the “borrowing cockroaches,” are ultimately considered pests, especially for yards.

As compared to other roaches, they are smaller in size, almost measuring an inch.

They are dark brown or black, and they also have shiny black wings and although they have wings, they are not very significant at flying.

They make their home in yards by often tunneling through loose, moist soil, compost, and mulch which is ultimately terrible for the flowerbeds, garden bushes, and other such plants in the yard.

These pests are often seen at night, and that is when they are most active; they come out to feed off plants in your gardens and leave a considerable amount of damage behind, which can be very troublesome.

As they can make way to your yards, they can easily invade homes and garages.

They seek warmth and they keep moving in search of necessities like food, water, and shelter.

If the roach is in favorable conditions, the female has the power to create an infestation within a minimal amount of time, and sometimes even after pest control, the eggs hatch and begin the cycle again.

In order to prevent this, you must keep your surroundings clean and often sanitize and spray repellants to keep such critters away.

 

Oriental Cockroaches

Oriental roaches are known for giving out a distinctive foul and musty odor.

They are often referred to as the “water roaches” or “black beetles,” as they are either dark brown or black and glossy.

The adults are usually about an inch long, and these roaches are winged.

Oriental cockroaches prefer to run rather than fly.

The wings of a male are shorter than their body, while those of the female cockroach is underdeveloped.

When these roaches are disturbed, they tend to run, and the adults fly away.

The female roaches lay about 16 eggs in the ootheca, which take about 2 months to hatch into nymphs.

These nymphs take about 16 to 18 months to mature into adult Oriental cockroaches.

They prefer to stay out of sight of humans and hence love the outdoor environment.

They like to feed on decayed organic matter and garbage and are found in areas like heaps, dumpsters, and leaf litters.

When found in Hawaii, they are usually found in dark and damp places like sinks, drains, crevices of porches, and basements.

These roaches lack the sticky pads on their feet that most roaches have, so they cannot climb up, even on smooth surfaces.

 

Flying Cockroaches in Hawaii

Hawaii does have some flying roaches.

Although these creatures are not great fliers, they usually do it when they feel like they are threatened, or to move to colder temperatures from warmer ones.

• The American roaches tend to fly and are extremely scary to encounter as they have a poor sense of direction, they may land on you or hit you as well.
• The German cockroaches have wings as well but they appear to be floating rather than flying and are not considered very intimidating.
• Adult Oriental roaches also tend to fly when disturbed or threatened.
• Surinam cockroaches are also equipped with wings but they do not fly very well.

 

Exterminate Hawaiian Cockroaches with Professional Pest Control Services

Now that we’ve discussed the various cockroaches in Hawaii let’s further talk about what you should do if you ever face a serious roach infestation.

Well, this is where a licensed exterminator comes into the picture! He will not only eliminate these buggers effectively and permanently for you but will also ensure that they do not make their way back inside your home.

To know more about them, get free multiple quotes from the professional Pest Control Companies in your vicinity so that you can choose the most economical and effective exterminator service for your infestation.

 

Final Words

Cockroaches can be a huge problem if not taken care of immediately.

Hawaii is known to be full of these insects due to the prolific nature of plants there; if it weren’t for roaches, the island would be full of debris.

They may be present in a clean house as well as dirty surroundings and due to their rapid reproduction rate; you may find yourself in the middle of a full-grown infestation if not looked after.

Precautionary measures like various home remedies or roach repellants need to be invested in if you wish to eliminate these buggers effectively.

And even after all these solutions, the problem still persists, then calling pest control would ultimately be the best option.