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Desert Cockroaches
(05/08/2008) What bug is this?
I live in the southern San Joaquin Valley in California, and
I found these bugs under metal barrels and logs.
They are about a half inch long. I've seen them crawl
and "hop". After looking at your website,
it seems to be a cockroach, but I haven't been able to
identify it for sure. Thanks for your help!
Kelvin Furgerson
hi Kelvin,
These are Desert Cockroaches in the genus Arenivaga according
to images on BugGuide.
Green Banana Cockroach
(04/30/2008) bunches of bugs & stuff!
Hi there, My name is Rachel and I live in Central Florida.
Im always running into bugs but I often find myself wondering
what they are exactly. All these may be very common,
but I don't know. Id be cool to find out! If it's too many
to ask about at one time, let me know! Thanks for your
time!
While your photos of various caterpillars, robber flies
and muskmares are very nice, we are truly excited by your
photo of a Green Banana Cockroach, Panchlora nivea, also known
as a Cuban Cockroach. This is an outdoor species that does
not infest homes and is not considered a pest. You can read
more about it on BugGuide.
We frown on getting numerous images of different species in
one email as it makes it difficult for us to post multiple
species in different categories to our site.
Flying
Cockroaches in India: American Cockroach
(02/10/2008) night of the roaches part 2 -- heeeelllppp --
now with photo
Hello, brave bug researchers!
I found your site looking for answers to a truly horrific
experience!!! I live in South India, and am used to
the odd roach, but last night my husband and I were awoken
by roaches running ALL OVER our bed and us. When
we put on the light, there were at least nine, all over the
bedroom, and when we opened the door to shoo them out,
we saw they were even flying in from other areas of the house,
and came back as fast as we swept them out. They stopped
coming when I showered and stripped the bed of (fresh)
sheets for good measure. I only knew what to do because the
same thing had happened to me once as a teenager -- I
woke up at night with something crawling on me,
and when I turned on the light I saw cockroaches were
flying at me from all corners of my (the same) bedroom.
It was unbelievable, more were coming in all the time,
and even though I ran around panicking they wouldn't leave
me alone until I showered AND washed my hair. My
question is, what on earth do you think could be attracting
them so incredibly? Did I smash one in my sleep maybe? We
joked whoever figures out the secret behind the roach magnet
could get rich quick LOL!! Seriously, has anyone
ever had this happen to them before? I was sort of pleased
it happened again when there was a witness...Roach Attack 1 was
so horror movieish that I've always felt people thought I
exaggerated it!! If it's any help, it rained the night before,
after a month of dry weather. I also saw a brown spot
on the sheets, that looked a lot like the stains the
stinkbugs leave that won't wash out. We also have a
bedside lamp that might be emitting some sort of frequency.
I can't identify which species these are (and I don't want
to find one to take a picture!!) but according to your site,
I'd say they most resemble the American roach, but larger
and they can fly. Thanks,
Terrified of a Repeat Episode
PS Got a photo!
Dear Terrified,
Try as we might, though we found numerous references to Flying
Cockroaches in India, we could not locate a species name online.
We suspect the rain probably is a critical factor in the roach
invasion. Perhaps one of our readers will have an answer for
you.
Update (02/10/2008) reply to Flying cockroach
in India
Hey there Bugman,
Your cockroach there IS the American roach, Periplaneta Americana
. They’ve travelled all over the world with us humans. And
if the humidity is right, these guys will fly. So India is
probably just right for it. As for what’s attracting them…maybe
it’s mating time. The males are incredibly sensitive to pheromones.
There must be some female hanging out underneath the bed.
Caitlin, Ohio
Hi Caitlin,
We located a posting by the Urban
Pantheist, and it states that: "The so-called American
cockroach, like most other urban cockroaches, is thought to
have originally come from Africa. When trade between that
continent and North America was at its most notorious--when
humans were a product to buy and sell--cockroaches stowed
away in ships."
Confirmation: (02/11/2008) From Eric Eaton
Daniel:
The "flying cockroaches in India," or at least the specimen
in the image, are American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana.
Despite the common name, these domestic pests are native to
tropical Africa, but have now spread globally. They do fly,
very well! I remember the first time I saw them do that,
when I was in Florida. Quite a shock!
Eric
Molting Cockroach from the Caribbean
(12/29/2007 originally sent 12/23/2007) Strange Looking Bug
Hello Bugman,
I live in St Vincent and the Grenadines, on an island
called Mustique. I was cleaning up outside when I saw this
strange looking bug. At first I thought it was two bugs fighting
with each other but on a closer look I think the bug was actually
climbing out of its shell. Am I right? Is this a cockroach?
Thank you for such a great site.
Tanya Clarijs
Hi Tanya,
Sorry we were unable to answer or post your letter originally.
You are correct. This is a newly molted Cockroach. Its color
will darken as its new exoskeleton hardens.
Suriname Cockroach
(06/23/2007) bug id
Dear Bugman,
These bugs are all over my lawn in NorthEast Florida. Never
seen one in the house but when I mow the lawn dozens of them
scurry up the side of the house. I can't figure out
if they're some kind of chinch bug or roach, or what. We do
have some lawn damage consisting mostly of surfaced roots
in random circular spots where no green grass grows. HELP
ME PLEASE!!
Jacksonville, Florida
This is a Surinam Cockroach, Pycnoscelus surinamensis.
It is native to the humid tropics but has been reported from
Florida, Texas and Louisiana. It is also a greenhouse pest.
Pale Bordered Field Cockroach
(05/15/2007) pls help identify
I have no idea how you got into this job but it is pretty
cool. Any idea what bug this is? We found about 7 of them
in the house today all of a sudden. It's total body length
is about the width of a nickel. We live in Austin, TX in a
subdivision with no new construction around us. Thanks!
Steve Shoaff
Hi Steve,
The perplexing information in your letter is finding 7 Pale
Bordered Field Cockroaches, Pseudomops septentrionalis, in
your home. This is an outdoor species that does not infest
homes. All Cockroaches have a bad reputation because of a
few pestilent species. Perhaps they were attracted to lights.
Though German Cockroaches shun light, others like Wood Cockroaches
are attracted to lights.
Young Brown Banded Cockroach
(11/30/2006) Tiny Kitchen-Loving Beetle
Dear Bugman,
My roommate and I have spotted several of these little beetles
wandering around our kitchen area. We even found one in our
microwave! At first I thought they were baby cockroaches,
but they don't act like any of the cockroaches I've encountered
in Orange County, California. As we've only lived in our apartment
about two months, I can't tell you when they started appearing.
The one I took a picture of is about .25cm in length and has
a pretty flat profile. It's antennae are about as long as
he is and are in constant motion. I checked around on the
web for other beetles but I have been unsuccessful in finding
out about this one. Any help you can lend us would be appreciated.
Thanks! Sincerely,
Marlene in Orange, California
Hi Marlene,
This is an immature Cockroach. We will see if Eric Eaton can
provide a species name for us. Eric quickly wrote back: "The
immature cockroach is probably a brown-banded cockroach, Supella
longipalpa. They tend to be found in electric appliances that,
even when not running, are warm and cozy:-) Look for them
behind picture frames as well. More information can be found
searching on the scientific name and then visiting .edu and
.gov websites for the most accurate facts. Eric"
Sand
Cockroach
(11/04/2006)
Upon returning from the movies (Prestige does not get our
stamp of approval) we inspected the insects that were attracted
to the garage light at our Mt Washington, Los Angeles offices.
We have been seeing Painted Arachnis Moths lately and they
are laying eggs on the wooden siding. Tonight, to our glee,
there was a Sand Cockroach in the genus Arenivaga. This winged
male was attracted to the light. Most members of the Cockroach
order are benign creatures that do not infest homes, and the
Sand Cockroach is one of the native species that should not
cause homemakers any grief. This genus is often found near
sand dunes and in areas with sandy soil.
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