Characteristics
- Size: These cockroaches are about one-half to five-eighths of an inch long
- Color: Some consider the pale-bordered field cockroach the “pretty” cockroach. They are brightly colored with a reddish head shield and yellow markings around the border of the pronotum and the wings. Their face and antennae have orange colored markings as well.
- Behavior: The pale-bordered field roach is a timid species and good at hiding. Because of this, these cockroaches can be hard to find and identify. When they are located, their bright colors often give them away.
Pale-bordered field cockroaches are omnivorous, which means it will eat just about anything it can. These cockroaches are scavengers who will dine on meats and grease, starchy foods, sweets and more. If there is no other food source, they can even become cannibalistic and eat each other, however that rarely happens in areas that have a high human population.
Habitats
The pale-bordered field cockroach is mainly an outdoor species, and can often be found in leaves and shrubs. They are sometimes seen outdoors in gardens and landscapes through much of the southern United States. While they mainly live outside, they can and do make it inside into houses, barns and almost any place that is dark and damp. According to Mississippi State University's entomology department, these cockroaches are native to Mexico and have been seen in south Texas for at least a century. They've made their way to eastern states fairly recently.
Tips for Control
There are some steps that homeowners can take to help prevent pale-bordered cockroaches from getting inside their home. Since these cockroaches really only end up inside homes via accident through easy entry points, like cracks and gaps, using weather stripping and caulk to seal up entry points can help keep these cockroaches out.If you want to learn more about other species of cockroaches that are more common home invaders, then Terminix® can help
