You will be amazed to know that Virginia is blessed with approximately 7000 miles of coastline. This vast stretch of coastline has blessed Virginia with a warm subtropical climate that attracts millions of tourists from across the US. On the one hand, the subtropical climate is a huge blessing, but on the other hand, it favors cockroaches in Virginia to thrive throughout the year.
Cockroaches in Virginia Include the German Cockroach, the most common Cockroach that infests indoor spaces. The American Cockroach is the second most common roach in Virginia, but it rarely infests indoor spaces instead loves to live in sewers and drains.
In Virginia, other common cockroaches are Brown Banded and Oriental cockroaches; they infest indoor spaces but less commonly. Wood cockroaches, including Florida Woods cockroach and Pennsylvania wood cockroach, are peridomestic cockroaches and are especially abundant in Buckingham State forest and Big Woods State Forest,
It will not be wrong if I call Virginia a hot spot of cockroaches because it hosts almost 25 different types of roaches. However, most types of cockroaches do not infest indoor spaces like homes, restaurants, and apartments. Instead, they live in the wild and are only accidental intruders.
I have written this blog to help readers in Virginia quickly identify and exterminate the type of cockroach-infesting indoor spaces. Moreover, this blog will help you prevent future infestation.
Tired of cockroaches? Invest in only these products and follow the guide to eliminate roaches!
Use these products, and you will be roach free in less than a week.
1. Advion Cockroach Gel Bait (Review)
2. Gentrol IGR Point Source (Review)
Other Products to try:
1. Combat Roach Traps (Easy than gel baits)
2. Hot Shot Foggers (To kill in masses – 95%)
3. Pet Safe Killers (Uses Essential Oils)
4. Ortho Defence Outdoor Roach Killer (Prevent Roaches)
Types of roaches in Virginia
Virginia has warm and humid summers that are perfect for roaches to thrive, breed, and infest indoor spaces. Therefore, Virginia is a perfect spot for roaches and houses at least 25 species of roaches.
However, fortunately, most of the species love to live in the wild and never infest homes. Here are the types of cockroaches found in Virginia,
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the most common Virginia roach. It loves to infest indoor spaces and can’t survive in the wild.
The German cockroach is half an inch in size and has dark stripes on the back of the head. They have two sets of wings but can’t fly.
The German cockroach infests Virginia’s houses, highrise buildings, damp basements, and restaurants. Bedrooms and kitchens are hotspots of German cockroaches in Virginia because the former provide air conditioning while the latter has plenty of food sources.
Interestingly, Virginia’s hotels, guest houses, hostels, and dormitories spread German roaches throughout the US. This is because many tourists visit them each year and serve as a medium for German roaches, their babies, and eggs.
German cockroaches are dangerous because they spread disease and trigger allergies. They also love to visit sewerage more often. Moreover, German roaches reproduce very quickly and infest very heavily.
American Cockroach
This is the second most common cockroach in Virginia. However, it occasionally infests indoor spaces when the outside temperature and conditions become unfavorable.
American cockroaches are found mainly inside gutters, damp basements, under the rocks, and sheds.
The American cockroach is one and a half to 2 inches with brown color with a flat body. It has flight-capable wings and reproduces quickly. The American cockroach has a life span of up to 2 years.
The American cockroach is among the flying cockroach in Virginia and is notorious for flying toward flashes of bright light or when feeling threatened.
Wood Cockroach
Wood roaches are the only roaches that are native to Virginia. They are the third most common cockroaches found in the state. They live in forests in large numbers and are accidentally carried indoors with firewood.
The Florida Woods Cockroach, aka Palmetto bug, is a peridomestic pest and is slightly different from other wood roaches. It is usually seen around the area surrounding the house, including storage areas, greenhouses, animal farms, and water supply.
Wood cockroaches infest homes made of wood more commonly but are easily exterminated because they are less shy than other roaches and roam freely.
Although all counties are infested with Wood roaches, Bedford and Campbell County in Virginia have the highest infestation rates with wood cockroaches.
Do you know the biggest cockroaches measure more than 3 inches in size?
Brown Banded Cockroach
Brown-banded cockroaches are also common cockroaches found in Virginia. However, it is different from the German roach because it has two noticeable lighter stripes across its back. Hence, brown-banded.
Brown Banded Cockroach measures about ½ inch long, and the male roach has wings covering the whole abdomen. However, the female Brown-Banded cockroaches have tiny wings with no ability to fly.
Brown Banded cockroaches rarely infest homes in Virginia, but they often infest restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Oriental cockroach
The Oriental cockroaches are also known as waterbugs in some states. Interestingly, Oriental cockroaches and water bugs are quite different. Nevertheless, they have also successfully made it to the list of common Virginia roaches.
The Oriental cockroach is 0.71–1.14 inches with a dark brown to the glossy black oval body. Interestingly, unlike males, the female Oriental cockroaches resemble Florida Woods Cockroaches.
The male and female both have short wings, but none of them is flight-capable, excluding them from the group of flying roaches in Virginia.
Oriental Cockroaches live in dark and moist places near decaying organic matter, sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, and other damp locations.
Oriental cockroaches rarely infest indoor spaces in Virginia but sometimes are seen in damp basements in hot and humid cities like Suffolk and Balcony falls.
Other types of roaches in Virginia
Smokey Brown, Asian, Oriental, Brown Banded, the Australian cockroaches are also found in Virginia. However, these roaches mostly love to live outdoors and rarely infest indoors.
Therefore, these roaches do not impose a major infestation problem in Virginia. However, when the outside conditions become extreme, mostly during heat waves, these roaches may move indoors and cause infestation.
Electronic Cockroach Repellent; Does it work? Read this article to know more.
Roaches in Virginia are pretty common
Have you ever wondered why there are so many roaches in Virginia? This is because Virginia offers excellent environmental factors that favor cockroaches to thrive.
As of July 2021, Virginia has a population of 8.5 million. According to Business Insider, as compared to other states, Virginia lacks economic opportunity and has low pay.
This has forced many people to live in small dwellings in cities such as Galax, Danville, and Petersburg. These small dwellings and low socioeconomic factors are the driving force behind an increased roach infestation.
Other factors include,
- High Humidity
- Warm tropical temprature
- Lots of tourists and the cramped population
- Interlinked city sewerage systems and drains
Preventing and Getting Rid of Cockroaches in Virginia
According to a survey conducted, public housing residents in Roanoke and Norfolk, Virginia, were concerned about cockroach infestations, and they spent between 0.4% and 1.0% of their annual income on pesticides.
Therefore, if you want to prevent spending extra bucks on pesticides, follow these simple guidelines to prevent roaches in Virginia from infesting indoor spaces,
- Pick up clutter, spilled food, and garbage regularly.
- Adequately cover garbage bins and bathroom drains when not in use
- Use Natural Repellents to keep roaches away
- Keep mothballs inside your luggage when traveling to endemic areas
- Cover crevices and gaps in doors and windows with masking tape
- Use window mesh screens to prevent American roaches from flying inside
- Use IGR spray or device inside the house. It prevents roaches from maturing into adult bugs.
- Keep lights dim on the patio and backyard to prevent Wood and Asian roaches from entering your space.
Can you kill a cockroach by stepping on it? Read this interesting article to know more!
Getting rid of roaches in Virginia
If you have an old roach infestation or you have failed to prevent roaches from entering indoor spaces, follow these three simple methods to get rid of roaches in Virginia.
Method 1: Using a bait
Using bait is an excellent method to get rid of cockroaches inside your bathroom, cupboards, kitchen cabinets, and basement, which are all the favorite spots of cockroaches.
Cockroach Baits are better than sprays as baits will kill the entire colony.
You can get your hand on many baits, but these are my favorite ones. Use each of them according to the instructions on the pack.
– Bengal Roach Killer is a dry spray bait, very easy to apply and use. (How to use guide)
– Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is the most effective gel you can buy.
– Hot Shot Liquid Cockroach Trapper and Killer is the best trap you can get for cockroaches.
– Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is the best bait out on the market.
Method 2: Using an IGR
Using an IGR helps ensure the roach nymphs don’t grow into adults. Cockroaches are notoriously fast breeders among insects in Virginia. Using an IGR spray will keep it in check for you.
An IGR alters the internal hormones of roaches to molt. This way, the roaches can not transform into adults and fail to reproduce.
Gentrol Growth Regulator (Amazon Link) is the only and the best IGR device for roaches. It’s easy to use. Just purge one of them and place it in a hidden place inside your bathroom.
Method 2: Insecticide Spray or Roach Bombs
Insecticide spray or roach bombs are quick solutions for getting rid of cockroaches in Virginia. However, Insecticide spray kills roaches but does not destroy eggs; hence, we often start to see roaches again just after a few weeks.
To get rid of Virginia cockroaches, seal all doors and windows, turn off ventilators or air conditioning and spray around all the corners and cockroach hiding places. Then, wait for 30 minutes before you ventilate the room.
Additional Read!
