Home Ownership The ubiquitous cockroach has an amazing ability to adapt to any situation. This pest can withstand the deadliest weapons in an anti-pest arsenal.

A broad, flatfish insect, the cockroach is 13 to 45 millimetres long. Two long antennae sweep from its head. At the other end of its body, two sensitive cerci protect it from rear attack. Although most species have large wings, cockroaches don't fly much, being content to slither into dark, warm crevices instead.

Roaches come in colours from a yellowish brown to jet black. (There are even green ones.) The most common type in Canada, the German roach, is light brown. It has two distinguishing black stripes along the midline of the body, just behind the head.


Offensive strategy

Cockroaches have a tremendous ability to adapt to adversity. One strain has even developed the ability to detoxify chemicals to which it has never been exposed. If you find cockroaches sharing your living quarters, your first defence is to make your home as inhospitable as possible.

Begin by depriving them of food. Given enough food, roaches are remarkably prolific beasts — a single female German roach can multiply into an epidemic of more than 400 000 scuttling scavengers in less than a year. It goes without saying that you should clean up spills, but the next step — bottling all your boxed food — should put a crimp in their style.




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December 4, 2008