Albino Cockroaches

Albino Cockroach Facts

Albino cockroaches may sound like an exotic new breed, but they are, in fact, a rather disappointing cockroach that is commonly misidentified or revered under false pretenses. As roaches develop they become nymphs and shed their skin periodically. During these few hours, they may appear to be fully grown yet white cockroaches, which creates an unusual sight, though not uncommon. The color and shell will both quickly develop back to its darker color and hardened state shortly thereafter.

The term “albino cockroaches” may be applied to most dark cockroaches that exist throughout the word and is particular to the instar phase in which the roach develops. Their name came into existence after many people found an elusive white roach in their home, not knowing it was simply growing and had shed its darker skin.

Albino Cockroach Identification

The identification of an albino cockroach is an instance of misidentifying a cockroach in general. Albino cockroaches are named albino after their white pigmentation, though their black eyes remain intact and may be a contradiction to albino which usually indicates red eyes and lack of pigmentation. This means that if you identify an albino roach, it may not actually indicate the true species or how many siblings they may have, as this differs between species.

Albino cockroaches, however, are the same oval shape and range in similar sizes to many other fully grown cockroaches, though younger roaches may be slightly smaller due to their variable growth rates. Albino cockroaches may or may not have wings, depending on their species and age within their developmental stage, and their shell will harden shortly after molting. The length of this time period also varies with species.

Albino Cockroach Habitat

Albino cockroaches may be found in most common areas known to other roaches. This may include indoors or outdoors and are usually damp areas which have plenty of shade or a dark and humid environment. Because they are less developed, they are more likely to be found near soil or other earthy places in which they were laid as eggs, closer to a food source rather than scurrying around. This does not mean that they can’t travel or be found in crevices around the home or garden. Crawlspaces, basements, greenhouses and behind laundry facilities are very popular places.

Life Cycle of Albino Cockroach

An albino cockroach is a larvae which has hatched from an egg. This is the second phase of a cockroach’s life cycle and is easy to identify by their unusual white coloring. As a cockroach develops, it goes through instars. These instars are periods in which feeding, followed by the shedding of their skin, takes place. Once the skin has been shed, the roach is transformed into a white, milky color for several hours or days, depending on the species, and is particularly vulnerable during this stage, as its shell is very soft.

As the new skin hardens and creates a new shell, the typical dark brown or reddish color known to many cockroaches will once again become apparent. For this reason, an albino cockroach may also be white, cream, or a light tan or brown color depending on the amount of time it has been in this stage.

The length of time, amount of molts and other specific factors are greatly determined by the species of roach in question. Not all cockroaches turn white or even have an instar period, so it all depends on its parents and the conditions in which it is found. Instar periods are generally faster and occur more frequently in warm, humid climates.

Albino Cockroach and Humans

Albino cockroaches are a collective name for a greater number of developing cockroaches, and as such, may present a number of problems. The first being that this is a relativity new roach and may indicate a contamination in your home or yard. The second may indicate more mature roaches present which are known to carry many transmittable diseases to both humans and pets, and the third major problem is their incessant hunger and shedding.

As they devour food, rotting wood and other insects or available food sources; Albino cockroaches can cause damage to your home. Albino cockroaches will also shed several times during their developmental stages, which means the undesirable task of sanitizing and treating your home. These skins, along with feces, are also known to be allergens and may also increase asthmatic symptoms in children and some adults. Removing and treating the source of the problem is the key when this pest has been discovered.

Albino Cockroach Control

Albino cockroaches should always be treated as a pest, and pest control should be acted upon with efficiency and immediacy. The white coloring indicates the final stages of development, which will quickly be followed by the creatures reaching sexual maturity. This may lead to a wide-scale domestic contamination if not treated immediately.

Extermination: For this reason, many people seek out professional extermination to ensure that a thorough application of treatment is provided (Albino cockroaches may also be found in piping, plumbing and other hard to reach spots), and to counter a second invasive swarm of second generation roaches.

Sanitation: A professional cleaning service may also be required, as feces and skins can be a larger problem to deal with.

Home treatment: There are many products on the market that are suitable for use at home and are designed specifically for cockroaches in general. You should ensure any use of pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals are applied correctly by reading the labels intensely and keep pets and small children away from treated areas. Many require repeat application to be effective.

Albino Cockroach Entomology

Albino cockroaches are not their own species, but they are part of the animalia kingdom and belong to the arthropoda phylum, or hexapoda phylum which are common of most cockroaches. Albino cockroaches are classed as insecta and have their own subclass, pterygota which is also common to most cockroaches.

Cockroaches in general have their own order, the blattodea, but unlike other roaches, albino cockroaches do not own their own name due to them not actually classified as their own species, but rather, are known commonly as albino due to a phase of development which occurs frequently from birth to maturity in many blattodea cockroaches; and in which their usual dark brown or reddish shells are short for short periods of time. It should be noted that this is only temporary and the existence of a true albino cockroach has never been found.