Once you spot a cockroach in your house, you should take action immediately to prevent an infestation since roaches can transmit diseases through their poop, shed skin, and other body parts.
Should you be concerned about white cockroaches? Are they different from other roaches? In this comprehensive article, we will explain what you need to know about white roaches, including information on where to find them and the remedies you can take to get rid of them. Read on to find out what causes white roaches and whether they are vicious and dangerous.
Cockroaches shed or molt their old exoskeleton regularly to pave way for a new exoskeleton. They turn white during this period that can last for a few hours before they restore their natural pigmentation
The transition that causes loss of pigment is known as a molt. It lasts for a few minutes or hours, depending on the species, and then the roach regains its typical brown pigmentation.
Nymphs or baby cockroaches are initially soft and white after hatching and then they darken and harden within hours. As they mature, they turn white for a few hours whenever they molt or shed their exoskeleton.
According to the United Nations, albinism is a non-contagious congenital condition that is present at birth and that results in a lack of pigmentation and poor vision. Going by this definition, we can deduce that white cockroaches are not albino since they only have a whitish appearance when they shed their old skin and replace it with the new skin underneath that is creamy white and soft.
A white cockroach is not an albino cockroach. In fact, we are yet to see a documented case of the latter that fits the albinism definition we mentioned above. If there ever will be an albino cockroach, it would be a genetic abnormality that would be responsible for the loss of pigment in the skin. A white cockroach does not have a genetic defect; the creamy white appearance is caused by a phase that is natural and common for all cockroaches.
To understand why there are no albino cockroaches, you must understand the lifecycle of a cockroach.
Small white roaches hide in deep gaps and crevices because they are vulnerable whenever they molt. Search the cabinets, any cracks in walls and floors, and humid areas in the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and drains. You might require a pest control professional or the best German roach killers to find and draw out any albino German roaches in your house since white roaches harbor deep areas for protection after molting.
Yes, they are. For starters, the nymphs mature as they molt, which means that they become larger and more likely to breed and multiply with each progressive molt. Secondly, the skin that roaches have shed becomes food for some roaches and can, therefore, attract more white roaches to your house and allow baby roaches to thrive into an infestation.
All roaches turn white after they discard their old skin and replace it with the new one underneath. The shed skin contains pathogens that could cause diseases like diarrhea and food poisoning if they contaminate your food, and allergens that can trigger respiratory issues such as asthma, especially in children.
White roach bites are not poisonous; they cause an itchy skin which is fairly harmless. However, albino roaches are as dangerous as other roaches because they can transmit diseases and worsen allergies through the allergens and bacteria in their roach poop, shed skin, and body fragments. A simple and inexpensive method of getting rid of these pests is to use boric acid to kill roaches. You could also use commercial boric-based products such as HARRIS Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish Killer Powder which is affordable and acts rapidly to kill cockroaches within 72 hours after initial contact.
Now that you understand where white roaches come from, you’re probably wondering what happens next after they discard their old exoskeleton. Depending on the type of cockroach, the new skin hardens and the normal roach color is restored over a few minutes or hours. Once the nymph matures into an adult cockroach, it starts breeding and before you know it, you have numerous albino house roaches of all sizes, including white baby roaches that have just hatched.
This is a question we get a lot because it not easy to spot white roaches in houses. Roaches turn white periodically after they have replaced their outer shell with a new shell that remains soft for a few minutes or hours. The soft and pliable shell makes them vulnerable to predators and dehydration and also limits their movement because it is not rigid enough for the attached body parts including the wings and legs.
Small white roaches are rare because after molting, they seek shelter in deeper and darker places and stay out of sight until their new skin hardens and regains its normal pigmentation.
Cockroaches live in nests. So, equip yourself with the best roach bombs and foggers if you come across an albino house roach because there are more of them where that white roach came from. Nymphs are a good indicator of an active infestation because white roaches are baby roaches that molt multiple times before they become adult cockroaches and start breeding.
The same preventative measures for cockroaches apply to albino or white roaches, too. They include keeping a clean, dry and hygienic home, eliminating their sources of food and water, checking and sealing any cracks in floors and walls, and placing boric acid near their suspected hideouts to kill any roaches.
If you have seen some roaches that are white, then you know that you have a bigger problem of an infestation unless you act fast. Below we will list DIY and commercial products that you can use to eliminate white cockroaches.
You should apply the insecticide near the albino roach nests where they can be in contact with the insecticide.
You can also purchase a product in spray form to kill baby roaches and get rid of white roaches in a house.
Some of the best roach killers that are applied in corners and crevices are available in dust or powder form while Syngenta 53204 Advion comes as a gel that kills not only roaches but ants too.
Check for roach poop and set up baits near those areas because excrement is one way of finding out where the white roaches are hiding and the path they use frequently.
Citrus is a deterrent for white roaches and other bugs. Wipe the floor and other surfaces with a mixture of water and lemon juice.
The potential health effects of pesticides from extended exposure, as reported by the National Pesticide Information Center, might make you inclined to adopt a natural solution to kill small white roaches. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil or peppermint oil and spray in the affected areas. The strong scent will drive them away.
If you cannot readily find the best roach bombs and foggers, another natural DIY option that works by making the cockroaches to bloat would be sprinkling baking soda on onions and then placing them where you spot the albino white roach.
Considering where white roaches come from, seeing one means that the problem may already be out of hand, in which case you will need to get professional assistance from reputable pest control management.
Getting rid of cockroaches is not easy because they like hiding in deep and dark places that can be difficult for you to know, much less to access. You also need to choose the appropriate product, such as the best German roach killers, for the species to increase its effectiveness to eliminate white roaches.
Despite their odd and sinister appearance, white roaches rarely attack people. They could bite you as they bite any food on your skin but white roach bites are not poisonous. However, they can transmit diseases because the shed skin retains allergens and bacteria accumulated from the filthy and decaying that white roaches eat.
Are there white roaches in your house? This might sound dramatic but seeing an albino roach is quite deadly because it means that your house now has shed cockroach skin and roach poop with a substantial concentration of bacteria and pathogens that could make you and your loved ones sick.
All in all, white roaches are a sign that you have more of those pesky cockroaches around than you’d like. If you see one, it’s likely that there are several more hiding in your home. These critters are not only a nuisance, but they can also be dangerous to your health. Be sure to call a pest control professional if you suspect you have an infestation. In the meantime, try some of the tips mentioned above to keep them away.
