Being a resident of Florida or having an interest in insect infestations, have you ever thought of why Florida always appears to be overrun with roaches? The tropical climate and abundant food and shelter resources available in Florida make it an ideal breeding ground for roaches. In this blog, we will learn about why roaches are common in Florida, which roach species are common in Florida, and the characteristics that make them resilient survivors.
Florida’s Ideal Climate for Roaches
Temperature
The roach infestation in Florida is usually attributed to its warm temperature that persists for the whole year and rarely falls below freezing point. This makes the conditions ideal for keeping cockroaches active throughout the year and allows them to reproduce at a higher rate, thus doubling their population rapidly.
Humidity
Cockroaches usually need a high level of humidity for survival to overcome dehydration and regulate their reproductive cycle. Florida is located along a coastline and receives high rainfall, which increases its humidity level, making it favorable for the thriving of roaches.
Food Sources
The high population of Florida results in a high amount of garbage, food scraps, and pet food, all of which are potential food sources for roaches. Moreover, there is a diverse variety of plants in Florida that also provide food to the roaches. This food abundance makes the Florida state an attractive habitat for cockroaches. They commonly hide behind the fridge, where they find heat, food crumbs, and a quiet place that makes it difficult to get rid of them behind the fridge.
Shelter and Breeding Grounds
Cockroaches are best seekers when it comes to finding shelter and breeding grounds. Roaches can be found in all types of locations, including homes, factories, and outdoor areas. These insects usually prefer dark, warm, and moist places such as cracks, crevices, and sewers, which are ideal for promoting their breeding and rearing of young ones.
Surinam Cockroach: A Persistent Pest in Florida
The Pygidiplasta surinamensis, commonly known as the Surinam cockroach, is a common pest in Florida. Its main characters are:
Physical Characteristics
Surinam cockroaches vary from dark brown to black and have a length of 1/2 to 3/4 inch. They can easily squeeze into narrow spaces due to their distinct flattened body. These cockroaches lack wings.
Habitat and Behavior
This type of roach is found in a wide range of habitats like homes, businesses, and outdoor areas. In homes, their common living sites are kitchens, bathrooms, and basements where they can access food and water easily. Surinam cockroaches show nocturnal behavior by being active during the night.
Diet
Surinam cockroaches, being omnivorous, eat a wide range of foods. They usually prefer food scraps, grease, and sweet substances. They also consume decaying organic matter.
Reproduction
Surinam cockroach populations mostly have more females than males as they reproduce through parthenogenesis. It is an asexual reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into offspring. They prefer this mode of reproduction, as in most cases females are isolated from males.
Surinam roaches are also referred to as ovoviviparous, as the females have egg cases called ootheca inside them. The female cockroach produces eggs rich in yolk, that are not released immediately. The developing embryos consume the yolk as a food source. The larvae either hatch within the mother or shortly after the eggs are laid. This unique strategy enables Surinam cockroaches to reproduce at a faster speed than other roaches.
Problems Caused by Surinam Cockroaches
Surinam roaches are potentially irritating pests for the majority of homeowners and businesses in Florida. They cause contamination of food and surfaces with pathogens, including bacteria. They can also cause allergic reactions in certain people.
Control and Prevention
Owing to their rapid reproduction, the control of Surinam cockroaches is a challenging task. They require a combination of methods for their effective control and prevention. One should make the areas unattractive for roaches by cleaning the food scraps. The cracks and crevices in buildings should be sealed timely. To minimize the roach population, you can also seek services of pest control.
Other Common Types of Roaches in Florida
Research published in the journal The Florida Entomologist has shown that almost 38 species of roaches are found in Florida. The major ones are:
American Cockroaches
American roaches are one of the common species of roaches found in Florida, contributing almost 25–35% of the total population. These are large, oval-shaped, and reddish brown. This roach type is commonly found outdoors in garbage and moist places. American roaches occasionally intrude to homes in search of food and shelter.
German Cockroaches
This light brown cockroach type is small and has two distinct dark parallel bands behind its neck. These roaches make up 40–50% of the total roach population in Florida. They have high adaptability to humid environments, making eradication much more difficult. These are found mostly in areas with high food and water.
Brown-banded Cockroaches
Brown-banded roaches are also light brown, having two dark bands across their wings. They usually prefer busy places like kitchens and bathrooms. Their ability to hide in small cracks and crevices makes their control a headache for people. They make up almost 10–15% of the total cockroach population in Florida.
Florida Woods Roaches
These dark brown roaches are usually larger in size with long antennae contributing 5-10% to the roach population in Florida. They are predominantly outdoor pests but sometimes invade indoor areas for food and shelter. Florida wood roaches can easily be seen flying around the domestic lights as they are attracted to light.
Australian Cockroaches
One of the least common (2–5%) species of roaches found only in some places of Florida is Australian cockroaches. They are reddish-brown and larger in size. Just like Florida wood roaches, this species is an outdoor pest but does invade houses for food and shelter. They are highly attracted to food scraps, garbage, and damp areas.
Smoky brown Cockroaches
Smoky brown cockroaches are the least common species of roaches in Florida, which make up less than 1% of the total population. They are also outdoor pests that can inhabit homes and businesses for food and humid shelter.
Florida Roaches-The Resilient Survivors
Roaches are considered resilient survivors due to their ability to adapt to changing environments. This has enabled them to survive for millions of years. It has been especially true when talking about Florida:
Exoskeleton
Like other insects, roaches also possess exoskeleton. The exoskeleton protects them from predators and environmental dangers. In Florida, along with protection from natural predators like Lizards, Birds, etc, the exoskeleton also shields roaches against dry environments. The exoskeleton also serves as a protective shield from radiation.
Reproductive Powers
Roaches show high reproductive success due to their ability to repopulate the area after their infestations are controlled. They can produce multiple generations annually and females can carry hundreds of eggs at a time in their egg cases. This fast reproductive rate makes the elimination of roaches from Florida a severe headache for people.
Dietary Versatility
Like the Surinam Roach in Florida, all roaches are omnivorous. They eat everything ranging from food scraps to garbage which includes paper, cardboard, and dead matter. This versatility contributes to successful survival in harsh environments and times of food shortage.
Hidden Habitats and Hiding Abilities
Some people don’t know where roaches hide, and they worry about their hiding places. Cockroaches are usually inhabitants of dark and secluded areas like cracks, crevices, etc. Some roach species form nests and colonies. They have the striking ability to hide in small cracks and crevices. They can squeeze into small spaces, making themselves undetectable. Through this ability, they can deter their predators and humans.
Resistance to Pesticides
With time, roaches have become resistant to certain pesticides, making their survival easy. They have developed this resistance due to genetic mutations over time. This has made pest control through traditional methods quite challenging, thus calling for other techniques.
Environmental Factors
Roaches are usually found in habitats that are warm and humid, which contributes to their survival. They prefer places like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements where food, water, and shelter are easily available. They also get good breeding grounds in these places, thus increasing their reproduction pace. Around 1.7 million homes in Florida are empty, allowing breeding grounds to go unnoticed.
Conclusion
Now you have the answer to your question: ‘Are roaches common in Florida?’ Roaches are a consistent headache for natives of Florida. The warm and humid climate is the biggest factor contributing to the high population of cockroaches. By understanding the various roach species found in Florida, you can seek an effective control method for roaches. The control of the roach population is a challenging task due to their hidden habitats, nocturnal behavior, and continuous movement. By including proper sanitation, sealing of entry points, and seeking professional help, you can significantly reduce cockroach infestations in your homes and businesses.
FAQs
- Why are roaches so prevalent in Florida?
The high prevalence of roaches in Florida can be attributed to its warm and humid climate. This climate aids in enhancing their reproduction rate. Moreover, Florida has ample food sources and shelter places for cockroaches.
- When should I call a professional pest control service?
At first, one should opt for natural and home remedies like pesticides to control the roach population. A professional pest control service should be called in case of severe infestations that are making you uncomfortable.
- Are there any specific areas in Florida that have higher roach populations?
The coastal and urban areas of Florida tend to have higher roach populations. The coastal areas are warm and humid, which helps in roach reproduction. The urban areas being densely populated provide more food and shelter sources.
- Can roaches cause property damage?
Although cockroaches typically do not cause structural damage, they are the greatest sources of contamination of food and surfaces, causing foodborne diseases.