What types of cockroach are the most common?
- German cockroaches ( Blattella germanica) are one the most common species.
- They measure 13 to 16 mm long and are pale brown in color, with two dark-brown stripes behind the head.
- These insects typically live up to 12 months and produce more eggs than other species.
How to identify different types of cockroaches?
- Oriental cockroaches ( Blatta orientalis) have glossy, dark-brown or black bodies.
- Females can grow up to 32 mm in length, while males typically measure less than 25 mm long.
- Neither male nor female Oriental cockroaches are capable of flight.
- Their life span is up to six months.
- Oriental cockroaches feed primarily on decaying organic matter.
What are the different species of cockroach?
Types of Roaches American Cockroach. The American Cockroach is found across the United States. It is reddish-brown in appearance and... German Cockroach. German Cockroaches are oval in shape and are a light brown or tannish color with two dark stripes... Oriental Cockroaches. Oriental Cockroaches, ...
How many kinds of cockroaches are there?
There are around 4000 different species of cockroaches on our planet. The most common types that might sneak into your house are the German cockroach, American Cockroach, Brown-banded cockroach, and Oriental Cockroach. In most cases, if you have an infestation of cockroaches, you are dealing with German cockroaches as they are the most common type.
What is the most popular cockroach?
The German cockroachThe German cockroach is found worldwide and is the most common cockroach found in the United States. They like to hide in kitchens and bathrooms, as they prefer warmth and humidity.
What is the hardest cockroach to get rid of?
German cockroachesGerman cockroaches are notoriously difficult to control. They breed and spread with dizzying speed, survive on very little, and don't give up without a fight.
What kind of cockroaches infest houses?
5 Common Types of Cockroaches That Will Sneak Into Your Home, According to ExpertsGerman cockroach. Nigel CattlinGetty Images. ... Brown-banded cockroach. Wi6995Getty Images. ... American cockroach. smuayGetty Images. ... Smoky brown cockroach. surasit bunnetGetty Images. ... Oriental cockroach. Goldfinch4everGetty Images.
Are house cockroaches common?
Cockroaches are common insect pests found all over the world. Familiar to most people, cockroaches are very resourceful insects that can live, eat, and breed in your home without you even knowing it.
What kills cockroaches instantly?
For best results, combine equal parts borax and white table sugar. Dust the mixture any place you've seen roach activity. When the roaches consume the borax, it will dehydrate them and kill them rapidly.
What kind of roaches are the worst?
The German cockroach is considered to be the worst species of cockroach for many reasons. Their long, dark antenna and light brown to tan coloration make them difficult to spot scuttling around in dark, cluttered areas of a home.
Should I be worried if I saw one cockroach?
If you spot one, odds are there are a few others lurking nearby, in dark corners or cracks and crevices and they could be fast on their way to a full blown infestation. Cockroaches are dangerous to humans – they carry bacteria on their bodies and their feet, contaminating any surfaces they come into contact with.
What to do if you see a cockroach?
Finding a dead roach means the same thing as finding a living one: it's time to inspect for evidence of more cockroaches and, if there are more, determine the extent of the problem. Then, you'll know if you should set baits and spray pesticides or call a professional pest control service.
What bugs can be mistaken for roaches?
Bugs That Look Like CockroachesCrickets. Crickets are approximately the size of cockroaches, but their coloring is much darker, with many appearing all black. ... Giant Water Bugs. ... June Bugs/May Beetles. ... Asian Longhorned Beetle.
What are cockroaches afraid of?
It's a fact that cockroaches are afraid of humans and other mammals or animals that are bigger than them. They see us as predators and that fear triggers their instinct to scatter away. However, they dislike strong and distinctive scents such as citrus, peppermint, lavender and vinegar.
Are cockroaches friendly?
Social and nocturnal, the cockroach is not a friendly pest to have in and around the house. With leathery backs, large antennas, and a propensity to leave around droppings, knowing when and why you have cockroaches in the home can help lead to removing one of the oldest living pest.
Will cockroaches go away on their own?
Unfortunately, a roach population won't go away just because you've moved out for a few months. They're very resourceful creatures. Cockroaches are versatile insects that will quickly adapt to living in an empty house. They will eat all types of organic matter, including sugary, starchy foods and meat.
Are roaches or bed bugs harder to get rid of?
Cockroaches are bigger, can fly, and come out more during the day. Bed bugs bite frequently and feed on your blood. Both bed bugs and cockroaches are difficult to kill, although bed bugs are squashed more easily.
Will cockroaches ever go away?
It is possible to completely get rid of roaches in your home with the right type of treatment but they will not stay away forever. Once you eradicate the current infestation you need to stay proactive about keeping them away.
What is the best professional roach killer?
Our pick. Terro T500 Multi-Surface Roach Baits. Best roach killer. ... Runner-up. Advion 68663 Cockroach Bait Arena. Similar, but harder to find. ... Also great. Combat Max Roach Killing Gel. A more-targeted gel. ... Also great. Terro T530 Roach Bait Powder. A powder for larger infestations.
How long does it take to get rid of a cockroach infestation?
Once a roach has found and consumed bait, it typically dies within 1-3 days. A substantial reduction in the infestation overall should be apparent within a few weeks. With cockroach baits, it usually is not necessary to empty kitchen cabinets or cover food preparation surfaces before treatment.
What Kind Of Cockroaches Have Stripes On?
A German cockroach enjoys spending time in the house. What do German cockroaches look like? Cockroach bodies are brown with two stripes on the back. It takes them between 12 and 5/8 inches to grow.
Do Roaches Have Lines?
There is no scientific consensus on whether or not roaches have lines, as there is no definitive way to study this phenomenon. Some people believe that roaches do have lines, while others believe that they do not.
Do Cockroaches Have Black Stripes?
A German cockroach is a tiny species of cockroach that is common in restaurants and homes. The body of a German cockroaches is light brown or tan, with two horizontal black stripes behind the head, and the wings are fully developed.
Eradicating Striped Cockroaches
There is no known cure for cockroaches, so the best way to get rid of them is to prevent them from infesting your home in the first place. Cockroaches are attracted to food and water, so keep your kitchen clean and free of crumbs, and seal up any leaks or sources of standing water.
American Cockroach – (Periplaneta Americana)
The American Cockroach is one of the most common types of cockroaches in the United States. They prefer warm and humid environments so they are most often found in the Southern United States.
German Cockroach – Blattella Germanica
German Cockroaches are found all over the United States as well as in other countries as well, as is considered the most common cockroach species worldwide!
Asian Cockroach – (Blattella Asahinai Mizukubo)
First detected in the United States around the 1980s, these cockroaches have their roots in South-East Asia. Once they’ve entered the United States, they are often found in the Southeast but have recently spread all the way west to the Mexico Border.
Brown-Banded Cockroach – (Supella Longipalpa)
Brown-Banded cockroaches are another type of roach that relies nearly completely on human activity to survive.
Oriental Cockroach – (Blatta Orientalis)
Oriental Cockroaches are often referred to as “black beetles” and are one of the easiest to identify species of roach in the United States because they look drastically different than other species of roach.
Smokybrown Cockroach – (Periplaneta Fuliginosa)
Most notably found in Florida, these warm weather loving roaches can be a frequent offender to those in warm and humid environments.
What are the two main groups of cockroaches?
Generally speaking, cockroaches are broken up into two main groups: domestic and peridomestic roaches.
Where do cockroaches live?
Where you’ll find them: American cockroaches are most commonly found on lower-floor apartments in cities, says Schal, because this type of cockroach lives primarily in sewer systems .
What do German roaches look like?
What they look like: The German cockroach is a small, light brown, torpedo-shaped roach that typically gets no longer than ¾ of an inch, says Coby Schal, Ph.D., who heads the Schal Lab at North Carolina State University, which focuses on the study of cockroaches. “The German cockroach is very distinguished by what I call racing stripes,” says Schal. Adult German roaches have two stripes on their pronotum—which is the plate behind the head—that you won’t find on other types of roaches.
What does a smokey brown cockroach look like?
Smoky brown cockroach. surasit bunnetGetty Images. What they look like: Smoky brown cockroaches are similar in size as the American cockroach —reaching up to 2 inches—but are almost black in color, says Schal. Although they’re shiny, as well, they don’t have the same amount of shine as the American cockroach.
What do brown banded cockroaches look like?
What they look like: The brown-banded cockroach is among the smallest of the cockroaches, along with the German roach. “Especially the brown-banded, if they’re immature, you may not even realize it’s a cockroach,” says Scott O’Neal, Ph.D., an urban entomology researcher at the University of Nebraska. It’s also typically reddish-brown in color, he says.
Where do oriental roaches hang out?
Where you’ll find them: Oriental cockroaches will generally hang out in cooler, moist areas , says Miller. One place in particular you’re likely to spot an oriental roach? Your basement. This is especially true after heavy rain periods, as oriental roaches will make their way inside during those downpours.
Do German roaches need water?
German roaches are very dependent on water, so if you have them in your home, you’re most likely to find them in your kitchen or bathroom. How to get rid of them: Unfortunately, German roaches have developed a resistance to many insecticides. That means you’ll have to be a bit more active in your approach to getting rid of them.
How long is a cockroach?
Measuring between 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch long, they are also one of the smallest cockroach pest species. Identifying a live roach can be extremely difficult because they move so fast. However, if you have an infestation in your home or business, then at some point you’re likely to come across a dead roach.
Where are German cockroaches found?
In fact, these cockroaches have been discovered as far north as Alert, Nunavut (located 500 miles south of the North Pole in Canada) and deep into the Patagonia region in South America.
What is the biggest roach in the world?
While German Cockroaches are the most common cockroaches in America, the American Cockroach is the biggest – full grown adults can be up to 2 inches long. American cockroaches are not native to the Americas and actually originated in Africa. Thanks to human activity, they are now found across the world. American cockroaches rarely infest homes.
Do cockroaches infest homes?
American cockroaches rarely infest homes. Instead, these large insects prefer to invade places where food is easily available, such as restaurants, grocery stories, food processing plants and bakeries. Learn how to get rid of American cockroaches with our guide on this species.
38 Cockroach Species List
Here are some of the best-known cockroaches from around the planet. Have an addition to the list? Please share it in the comments!
How to Identify Types of Cockroaches
Here is a short video that shows the differences between four common types of cockroaches.
Cockroach Types and Taxonomy
Cockroaches belong to Dictyoptera, a Superorder that includes mantids and termites.
Cockroach Orders and Families
Here’s the taxonomy for all types of cockroaches, including termites and mantids.
Your Turn
Have a question about cockroaches? Or maybe a fact to share? Join me below!
How many cockroaches are there in the world?
To keep your family and home safe from a cockroach infestation, pest control and prevention is key. However, with approximately 4,000 living species of cockroaches in the world, and about 70 species found in the United States, it's inevitable that some cockroaches will find a way inside homes.
What color are cockroaches?
American Cockroach. Appearance: American cockroaches are reddish brown with a yellowish figure 8 pattern on the back of their head. This species is the largest of the house-infesting roaches. Region: This species is located throughout United States and worldwide.
Why are cockroaches called water bugs?
Unique Facts: Oriental cockroaches are sometimes called "water bugs" because they come out of drains, and "black beetle cockroaches" because of their smooth, dark bodies. This species creates a strong smell and is considered one of the dirtiest of all the cockroaches.
Where to inspect for cockroaches?
When inspecting for types of cockroaches, pay extra attention to kitchens and bathrooms - especially under appliances and sinks - as these areas are particularly vulnerable to cockroach infestations. If you suspect or discover an infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional.
Where do brown banded cockroaches live?
They can be found in kitchen cabinets and bathrooms, as well as behind picture frames. This species often hides its egg cases in or underneath furniture .
Can cockroaches survive without a head?
Long despised by homeowners, the cockroach is more than just a creepy nuisance pest that can survive freezing temperatures and a week without its head. This creature can pose serious health risks to humans if it finds a way indoors. In fact, all types of cockroaches pick up germs on the spines of their legs as they crawl through decaying matter, which may be transferred to humans through food contamination. Cockroaches are known to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, as well as six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens.
What is the most common cockroach in the United States?
So, unless you want your kitchen to be overrun with roaches, it’s best to clean up after meals and keep food out of the sink. Control: Of all the cockroaches found in the United States, German cock roaches are the most common.
How many cockroaches can a female cockroach have?
In fact, just one female German cockroach can populate your home with more than 30,000 roaches over the course of a year. That’s thousands of disease-carrying cockroaches that could be crawling all over your kitchen. So, if you think the description above matches your culprit, you’ll want to move quickly!
How long is a Smoky Brown Cockroach?
Identifying features: - 1.5 inches long. - Solid dark brown body and black shell. - Common to see them fly. Prevention: Compared to other roach species in South Carolina, the Smoky Brown cockroach is particularly susceptible to dehydration. As a result, they only tend to exist in places that are moist.
What is the palmetto bug?
In reality, the term palmetto bug is reserved for one particular species: the American cockroach.They’re attracted to damp environments so moisture control is a big factor in prevention. Control: Like other cockroaches, the American cockroach is capable of carrying and spreading disease.
What color are brown banded cockroaches?
Brown Banded Cockroach. Identifying features: - 1 inch long. - Males are dark brown and golden. - Females are reddish brown and dark brown. - Males will fly on occasion. Prevention: Unlike some of the other roaches commonly found in South Carolina, the Brown Banded cockroach doesn’t need moist conditions to survive.
What is an Oriental cockroach?
Oriental Cockroach (AKA Waterbug) Identifying features: - 1.25 inches long. - Usually dark brown or black. - Not capable of flying (although they do have visible wings) Prevention: Commonly referred to as a “waterbug,” the Oriental cockroach prefers wet conditions and is less commonly encountered inside your home.
Can you control roaches in South Carolina?
Thanks to South Carolina’s warm, humid climate, roaches are incredibly common. Fortunately, roach control is possible. The best way to deal with roaches, however, is to stop them before they make their way inside. How do you do this? Different roaches are attracted to different areas of the house, so if you can figure out which types of roaches you have, you can understand why and how they're getting into your home and stop them in their tracks.
What is the most common cockroach in the world?
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica) The most common cockroach in the world, the German cockroach causes a lot of problems. While they struggle to survive in colder climates, they easily find shelter, often invading commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and nursing homes.
What is a brown banded cockroach?
Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa) If you find cockroaches in a bedroom or living room, you may be encountering the Brown-Banded cockroach. This species differs from other roaches in that they don’t require as much moisture to survive.
What is the most common pest in the United States?
Also identified as the water bug, the American cockroach is one of the most common pests infesting homes in the United States. Reddish-brown in color, this cockroach is large and fast, making it quite the nuisance for homeowners.
Where do wood roaches live?
and Central America. These roaches prefer to live outdoors in wood and leaf piles and other locations with decaying organic matter. However, they can be attracted to the light and food within the home, often hitching a ride in garbage and firewood. If bringing anything into the house, check first that this little critter isn’t getting a free ride.
Where do Oriental cockroaches lay their eggs?
Oriental cockroach infestations can be difficult to deal with, as they lay their eggs in small, hard-to-reach places like cracks and crevices. Sometimes these roaches require more aggressive forms of treatment to help resolve ...
Is a cockroach a tropical pest?
Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae) Similar yet slightly smaller than the American roach, the Australian cockroach is a common pest in tropical areas. Intolerant to the cold, this pest can survive in moist and dry environments.
Do cockroaches fly?
For the most part roaches only fly short distances, with some even just gliding from higher to lower surfaces.