Roaches Around the Home

Author: Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist 

No one likes finding roaches around their home, but did you know some roaches are actually worse to find than others? Before you brush off these annoying bugs or panic about a pest problem, it's essential to know the kind of roach you're dealing with.

American Roaches

American roaches are the largest residential roaches. Sometimes called "water bugs" or "palmetto bugs," these roaches prefer sewers, drains, and other warm, damp areas. American roaches enter homes through gaps around the foundation and plumbing penetrations. These roaches are known to spread over 33 different types of bacteria, many of which can lead to food contamination and illness. Luckily, fixing moisture issues and pest entry points can prevent American roaches from invading your home.

You can identify an American Roach by their: 

• Large size, 1.5-2.5 inches long
• Red-brown bodies with a tan shield over the head
• Wings cover the whole body, helping these roaches fly
• Antennae that are as long or longer than the body

Oriental Roaches

Oriental roaches get into structures through gaps in the foundation. Doors, windows, siding, vents, and attic openings provide entry points around your home. These cockroaches prefer eating rotting, decaying organic material and are heavily dependent on water, so clogged gutters, overwatered plants, and flooded composts can lead to Oriental roach problems.

You can identify an Oriental Roach by their: 

• Large size, ~1 inch long
• Shiny black bodies and black head shield
• Wings for male roaches or wing pads for female roaches (neither sex can fly)
• Antennae are as long as the body

German Roaches

While American and Oriental roaches can be annoying, German roaches are the most problematic pests you can find in your home. These roaches are tiny and tend to gather in areas of warmth. Common infestations occur in appliances like Wi-Fi routers, gaming stations, microwaves, and other kitchen equipment. While the larger roaches wander in from the outside, these smaller roaches are usually, and accidentally, brought inside on infested boxes, thrifted items, or used devices. And where there’s one German roach, there are bound to be tens if not hundreds more…

 You can identify a German Roach by their:

• Small size, 1/2 - 5/8 inches long
• Tan bodies with two dark stripes on their head shield
• Wings that cover the whole body, though they rarely fly
• Antennae that are longer than the body

Got Roaches?

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