Officials at the Covington County Extension office said Friday they have been inundated with calls from people who have Asian cockroaches in their yards and homes.

“Exterminators have had the same amount of calls to them wanting them to come spray or give advice on what they can do (to exterminate them),” said Chuck Simon, county extension coordinator.

The Asian cockroach has been in the U.S. since 1986, but was only discovered in the Wiregrass in 2003.

This small outdoor cockroach closely resembles its nearest relative, the common German cockroach.

Simon said these pests are attracted to light.

“For example, the TV screen, lights on in your house, etc,” he said. “If you have a small crack in the door at the bottom or something they can easily come in toward the light source. They have been docile and usually don’t scatter like normal cockroaches.”

According to the extension office, since the Asian species are often mistaken for German ones, control measures are applied inside the home, but not outside where they live.

Because Asian cockroaches live outside, management practices need to target leaf litter and mulch.

Officials said it is imperative that cockroaches be identified correctly so that control and management practices can be applied in the correct locations.

Asian cockroaches are easily controlled with most pesticides.

Because the Asian cockroach can fly 120 feet or more in a single flight, large areas around a home require treatment. Even so, cockroaches in surrounding untreated areas may result in re-infestation.

-Kendra Bolling