Handling roaches in the most optimal way possible can be difficult, especially when environmental factors come into play, and New Jersey cockroaches may seem similar to most American cockroaches. Still, there are a few subtle but note-worthy differences.
Seven distinct cockroach species in New Jersey can find their way into your homes and businesses. Because of this, you’ll want to know which species you are dealing with, so you can find the best control tactics.
Thankfully, the methods used to get rid of them share enough similarities to keep things uniform when eradicating these invasive pests.
What Roaches Live in New Jersey?
The seven cockroach species that live in New Jersey are as follows:
- American roaches
- German roaches
- Oriental roaches
- Brown-banded cockroaches
- Spotted Mediterranean roaches
- Pennsylvania wood roaches
- Surinam cockroaches
Below we will be diving into the unique characteristics of each one and how you can combat these disease-spreading pests.
1. American Cockroaches
American cockroaches aren’t the largest that appear on this list, but they aren’t relatively the smallest either, with most adults reaching about 1 ½ to 2 inches.
These glossy reddish-brown roaches can be found all over the United States, but they do happen to have another nickname that some people may be more familiar with; that name is none other than “palmetto bugs.”
The lifecycle of American roaches is rather long, surviving for roughly 200 days at a minimum, with the scales topping out at about two years, assuming they don’t come into contact with any wary humans or other natural predators.
We can break down American cockroach life stages from when it starts within the egg until they breathe their last breath and lay one last batch of eggs. Throughout this lifetime, a female can produce ten oothecae that amount to about 150 eggs, with each ootheca containing about 15 eggs.
American roaches prefer dark, moist places to nest and lay their eggs. They usually keep their hunting grounds hundreds of feet away and inhabit any sewer pipe or stockpile of foliage they can nestle into without being disturbed.
Read More: Geting Rid of American Roaches
2. German Cockroaches
German cockroaches are a bit smaller than American ones, coming in at anywhere between ½ inch to ⅝ inch. These little cretins can be easily identified throughout their lifecycles by the color variations displayed.
When looking at baby German cockroaches in the nymph stage, it would appear as if they are a black-brown color, with a singular tan line running to their rear. Still, as an adult, this darker coloring recedes into two small lines on their “pronotum” or back of the head for those not so scientifically inclined.
German roaches are avid about the spread of their family and do so in record timing, considering that they only produce about 5 to 8 oothecae within their lifetimes. Still, these eggs each can hold up to 40 eggs.
Unlike American roaches, the German roach will scavenge and sleep in the same location, opting to indulge in whatever the most accessible food source is, typically within your home. Very few things need to be added to its rich diet.
German roaches will eat anything from pet food to table scraps and excess food left on dirty dishes to your favorite leather jacket or book.
Read More: How To Eliminate German Roaches
3. Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches can be as long as 1 ¼ of an inch long for the males, with females being just a bit smaller, reaching the 1-inch mark, and having a very shiny dark brown complexion, almost appearing reddish-brown at times throughout their nymph stages.
The reddish-brown coloring on their wings is one of many things that happen to be misleading, as the males have wings but are entirely incapable of flight. In contrast, the females don’t have wings but a smaller deceptive pair of appendages called “wing pads,” which roughly translates into wings that aren’t fully developed.
Oriental cockroach lifespans are about a year long, with a female producing 18 oothecae throughout her lifetime, bearing 280 eggs in them, ensuring their population remains strong long after she dies, which is fortunate for the roach, but unfortunate for us humans.
This skittish roach typically can be found in damp areas that can keep them hydrated throughout the year. The oriental roach is most active between late spring and early summer, coinciding with when their species is the most lively.
Read More: I Found an Oriental Cockroach In My House: How to Get Rid of Them
4. Brown-Banded Cockroach
As the name suggests, a brown-banded cockroach can be easily characterized by the light tan colored bands on their backs as nymphs, which turn into a single band when they reach adulthood, visible on both males and females of the species.
The brown-banded cockroach is one of the most common species of cockroach in the world thanks to them being able to inhabit most of the planet and being even more resilient than other species because they do not require nearly as much moisture to survive.
Sharing a similar lifespan with the American roach, brown-banded roaches can survive about 210 days. They typically make 14 oothecae in a lifetime, each housing 18 eggs, for a total of 250 eggs in a singular lifetime.
These roaches are happy to live in most domestic housing, so keeping a clean kitchen and bathroom is a must to avoid an infestation.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Brown-Banded Cockroaches
5. Spotted Mediterranean Cockroach
The spotted Mediterranean cockroach is a light brown roach with quite a few spots decorating its back and measuring ⅜ an inch, and it lives up to its name.
Thankfully, there is one saving grace about this species in particular. It comes in the form of being more comfortable outside than within four walls, so seeing them in your home is rather unlikely, and even less so is witnessing an entire infestation of them.
The spotted Mediterranean cockroach might have the shortest lifespan on this list, with the females only living about 42 days at most and males being lucky to survive roughly a month or so. Still, this short lifespan doesn’t affect their reproduction.
Females of this species can reproduce without mating and lay two oothecae within a lifetime, each containing 17 eggs, which doesn’t seem like a lot. Still, compared to others on this list, their time to mature is much shorter, so we should be thankful they don’t favor indoor housing.
6. Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach
The Pennsylvania wood roach is notably dark brown among males, with females having that same strong brown with a reddish accent notable throughout their bodies. Males can be marked with wings extending past their abdomen, with females having noticeably shorter wings.
The Pennsylvania wood cockroaches’ measurements round out at about 1 inch long, with females being just a bit smaller, coming in at just ¾ inch long, with a lifespan of 11 months going from ootheca to death. Still, this lifespan is deceptive due to how many young they can produce.
In that 11-month lifetime, a Pennsylvania wood cockroach can make 30 oothecae, which house a whopping 1,050 eggs in a single lifetime. Much like the Mediterranean, this roach prefers to be outdoors but will enter homes given the opportunity, so sealing gaps and placing traps will be your best defense against them.
7. Surinam Cockroach
The Surinam cockroach has a mostly brown body with a solid black pronotum. You can primarily tell these apart from any other roach on this list, wildly gleaming their size, which is anywhere from ¾ an inch to 1 inch in length.
Yet another roach found throughout the United States, the Surinam can reproduce just like the spotted Mediterranean in that it doesn’t have to physically mate to create young, with each ootheca containing anywhere from 14-48 eggs. These could become quite the problem given enough time.
Their nesting habits typically include destroying soil and plants to eat and find a suitable location for their young. If you are a plant fan, you would be wise to actively monitor the ground of any potted plants in your home or outside it for these pests.
Are Roaches in New Jersey Dangerous?
Yes, roaches in New Jersey are dangerous because, like all roaches, they can carry disease and sickness. Cockroaches coat any surface they encounter with bacteria that can become an issue if you aren’t careful about your cleaning habits.
Roaches in Nearby States
Unfortunately, the species of roaches that can be found in neighboring states can make their way into New Jersey. Luckily, the roaches found in PA and in New York are the same as those found in NJ, offering no additional threat.
Why Do I Have Roaches in My Home?
You have roaches in your home for many reasons. One of these reasons may boil down to having an unclean living space or being close to a large-scale infestation, with another possibility being that your home has cracks or holes that you are unaware of that allow for roaches to seek shelter quickly.
Another reason is because of cracks in your walls or through drain pipes. Suppose you have a gap under your door or window. In that case, a cockroach might make its way inside your home.
Ways to Get Rid of Roaches
There are a few ways to get rid of roaches in New Jersey.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is highly acidic to a roach and causes a chemical reaction within them when ingested. For this reason, boric acid traps are typically paired with peanut butter or starches to trick the insect into consuming the mixture.
Read More: Boric Acid To Kill Roaches
Glue Traps
When used in high-traffic areas, simple yet effective glue traps can hamper any active infestation. The glue traps are placed down and trap any roach dense enough to walk through the layer of glue.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is an excellent way to kill roaches because it kills on contact by dehydrating a roach and preventing it from getting the precious moisture it needs to survive. Sprinkling this along cracks and holes of your home and the perimeter of your home will create an effective barrier keeping roaches out.
Baking Soda
A very volatile take on the boric acid method, yet another chemical reaction is created when a roach ingests baking soda, making its stomach explode.
Baking soda is not always messy, but it can be at times, so you would be wise to pair it with sugar to trick the roach into eating it.
Contacting Pest Control
If the problem is too significant for you, reaching out to a certified professional may be the best course of action to grasp the situation better and figure out the plan of attack to rid you of your infestation.
If you have any more questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to read any of our other cockroach articles. We have multiple resources for you to read and eliminate these pests from your home.
Lastly, we wish you great luck in your battle with these pests!
