But did you know that they are different types of cockroaches?
And if you are worried aboutcockroach infestation, you have to know how to identify them.
How many different types of roaches are there?
While there are more than 4,500 recognized species of cockroaches, we can categorize them into eight major types.
In your fight against cockroach infestation, the first plan of action is always identification.
There are eight common types of cockroaches.
For the next section, we will dissect the most important information about these types of cockroaches.
American Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)
This one is also called the sewer roach or the palmetto bug.
Unlike German cockroaches, these ones live outdoors and will not infest living spaces.
Related:Whats The Difference Between Palmetto Bugs and Cockroaches?
For starters, they have wings but they use them for gliding and not for flying.
They could grow to up to 3inches in length which makes them one of the biggest common roaches.
They are identified with their reddish-brown color and a light yellow single stripe in the abdomen.
Juvenile American roaches do not have wings while adults have wings.
American cockroaches live on sewers or pipes, hence, the name.
Through this, they can easily enter homes and feed on stored food.
They enter through cracks in the windowsill and small holes.
Signs of infestation include seeing them in basements, kitchen, and even in bedrooms.
You also have to double-check that the kitchen is clean along with kitchen appliances.
German Cockroaches (Blattella germanica)
This is the most common house and building cockroach.
Aside from that, they are also the fastest producing cockroach of all species.
They are quite dangerous because they are more prone to contaminating food and cooking equipment.
They also shed more frequently than others leaving egg cases that can cause allergies for those with asthma.
German cockroaches are relatively small (0.5inch long).
While they have wings, they are not the flying kind and they only use the wings to glide.
Adult German cockroaches on the other hand have a lighter brown color with two black stripes on their thorax.
They would usually hang out in bathrooms or in kitchens or where there is food or near water sources.
They would niche on pipes and ducts of homes and buildings.
Depending on infestation, getting rid of German cockroaches can take two to six weeks.
There are many ways to get rid of them but here are some ways to do that.
One is using food-grade diatomaceous earth.
It is very abrasive damaging roaches to the bone.
It has the ability to execute a whole colony as the substance will rub on to them eventually.
Male brown-banded roaches are jumpy and are easily disturbed (jumping instead of flying).
While the females have wings too, they are just rudimentary parts.
This species is distinguishable for their narrow bodies but are relatively small at 0.5inch length.
Females are darker brown in color while males have a more tan color.
Juvenile roaches of this throw in have light-brown bands surrounding their bodies.
In the kitchen, removing crumbs and wiping up any liquid spill regularly.
Garbage cans must also have shut lids and seal entry points like crevices, window gaps, and plumbing.
Oriental Cockroaches (Blatta orientalis)
They are considered as dangerous outdoor pests.
They live in homes and buildings where surrounding vegetation is abundant.
They are more dangerous than others because they feed on garbage, feces, and animal matter.
They also stink very much and are more threatening in contaminating food and utensils.
They are not fast-moving and they do not have wings too.
They are the roaches that are commonly trapped in sinks and tubs.
They are slightly larger than German cockroaches but are smaller than American cockroaches with their length of 1.25inches.
They have a shiny body and a reddish-brown to black color.
Females have wings that have no use and males wings are shorter than their bodies.
Juveniles have no wings at all.
Oriental roaches enter the home through pipes, window gaps, and in vents.
They basically live everywhere and survive even in freezing temperatures.
Getting rid of oriental cockroaches require basic home adjustments only.
All you have to do is to move garbage bins away from damp and dark locations.
You also have to seal water leaks and also drains.
You will also need to adjust the ventilation of moist locations in the home to stop them from entering.
Once they become uncontrollable, there are always insecticides that it’s possible for you to use.
5.Australian Cockroaches(Periplaneta australasiae)
They are also outdoor roaches but occasionally, they enter homes.
It has notably long wings that allow it to fly in short distances.
Along with this is a large body.
It feeds on decaying organic matter and might contaminate kitchen utensils and pantry foods.
They have the same size as American cockroaches.
The only difference is the brown ring-like pattern on the back of the Australian roach.
They could grow to a length of 1.5inches.
As such, they are considered as one of the largest roach species.
Finding egg cases in food pantries and garden plants are already signs of infestation.
Finding egg cases beneath furniture and storage rooms are also enough signs.
Of course, removing obvious niches is one of the most natural ways to get rid of them.
Resorting to insecticide software in window gaps and niches is also the most accessible choice.
Smokybrown Cockroaches (Periplaneta fuliginosa)
These species love damp spaces near water sources.
It is the flying kind and like the wood roach, they are also attracted to light.
They are sensitive to disturbance and are nocturnal species.
This species is relatively large in size at 1.5inches long.
They have mahogany brown to dark brown color.
Their thorax is black in color.
They are the most distinguishable in terms of appearance because their wings are longer than their bodies.
Smoky Brown roaches typically niche in ground floor levels and basements.
The infestation starts in leaking roofs, garbage cans, wood stacks, and sewers.
Colonies in landscaping beds, gutters, and groundcovers are also signs of infestation.
Discarding old boxes and piles of paper could be one step in getting rid of them.
There are also chemical interventions for this.
They have to be applied in dust cracks, window gaps, and locations where they can niche.
Asian Cockroaches (Blattella asahinai)
This cockroach species looks exactly like the German cockroach.
It loves warm and high humidity locations and would literally feed on anything including rotting leaves and dead insects.
It is relatively small in size with only 0.5inch length.
Its color is mostly light to dark brown.
Its distinguishing characteristic is its two black stripes running through its back, all the way to the abdomen.
Aside from this, white markings are scattered around the body of the Asian roach.
They are also commonly found in the garage or sheds.
They can also crawl on TV screens for its light.
Otherwise, they are drawn to the damp outdoors, in garbage cans, and sewers.
Since they can fly, the best remedy to get rid of them should be baits and pheromone traps.
Using insecticide could also be a good choice for getting rid of them.
Wood cockroaches
There are 12 recognized species of wood roaches.
This includes the Virginia wood roach, Bolls wood roach, and the Pennsylvania wood roach.
Homes near woodlands or forests may be more prone to wood roach infestation especially during the summer.
They feed on wood and they are the only roach species that are attracted to light.
They are brown and are at 1inch long.
Some species have noticeable white edges on their wings.
The wings of female wood roaches are shorter than that of males while nymphs have no wings at all.
During cooler temperatures, they can infest the home and reach the kitchen and living room through firewood.
Limiting firewood piles could also help in getting rid of wood cockroaches.
Here are some other types of cockroaches that you should know about.
While adults have wings, they cannot fly.
They are used as model roaches for lab experiments and are steady feed for tarantula and lizards.
Albino Cockroach
Scientific articles would debunk the idea that there is a separate albino cockroach species.
They could grow long to up to 2inches.
They are attracted to light and are robust flyers.
Adult Cuban roaches have a pale green color while young Cuban roaches are either black or brown in color.
They do not invade homes and are 100% outdoor roaches.
Adults niche on tree canopies while the young ones live on the ground.
They are reddish-brown or black in color and could grow long to up to 1.5inches.
They are outdoor roaches who niche on a litter of decomposing leaves and other organic matter.
They could reach homes, however, through firewood.
They should be avoided though because they secrete a certain chemical that will cause skin and eye irritation.
They are long and flat and though they have wings, they cannot fly nor climb smooth surfaces.
They do not infest homes and are not aggressive.
However, they emit a strong odor when they are startled or are threatened.
Dubia roaches
It is also known as the tropical spotted roach or orange-spotted roach.
It is a popular feed for reptiles such as lizards and arachnids such as tarantulas.
Their higher protein content compared to crickets and other insects led to Dubia roach breeding.
So basically, Dubia roaches are bred roaches.
They, however, cause bumpy and irritated skin, sneezing, and even wheezing.
It grows to up to 1.5inches long.
To distinguish it from German cockroaches, spot the black stripes around its eyes.
And like other cockroaches, they follow cracks, vents, and window gaps.
Almost all species have wings but most of them are just vestigial.
For those who could fly, they could only do so for short distances.
Some would use their wings to glide or jump but never use them in a flapping motion.
Green Cockroach (Panchlora nivea)
It is native to the Caribbean and thrives in tropical climates like Florida.
Adults have yellowish green to deep green color while young ones have brown or black colors.
Adults are also strong fliers niching on shrubs and trees while the young burrow on the ground.
They do not infest homes since they really are outdoor roaches.
They are also captured to be used as feed for other species.
They have a shiny brown color, wingless and have a peculiar-looking, single antenna.
Males have larger antennas.
They use this not only to attract mates but also to fight with rival roaches and other insects.
They would ram this antenna to fight.
Madeira Cockroaches (Rhyparobia maderae)
They are native to West Africa and other tropical countries.
Males, however, make an uncanny sound by rubbing their legs together.
The lifespan of this cockroach jot down is 2years.
Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta pennsylvanica)
These roaches, as the name implies, live in woods.
They cannot survive indoors for a long time so homes and buildings are safe from them.
Males and females show slight body dimorphism.
Males have larger bodies at 1inch, have functional wings but only in short distances.
The females on the other hand cannot fly at all though they have short, vestigial wings.
They have a distinct mahogany brown color with yellow markings all over.
They are named as such because their appearance resonates with the brown beetle.
They have small heads, brown color, and vestigial wings that reach their abdomen.
They feed on barks of pine and juniper trees.
They are kind of jumpy and are easily disturbed.
When this happens, they would emit a foul odor that might cause skin and eye irritation to humans.
Pale-Bordered Field Cockroaches (Pseudomops septentrionalis)
They are very small as their maximum length is at 0.5inch only.
Their antennae and face are orange in color.
While they are very shy and good at hiding, they are easily spotted because of their color.
They eat anything; from meat, scraps to rotting leaves.
Males are bigger than females but their maximum length is just less than an inch.
Males have wings and can fly while females cannot but have vestigial wings.
They are also called desert roaches because they never leave their burrows.
However, they would occasionally enter homes because they are attracted to outdoor lights.
They have shiny, brown wings and dark brown to black bodies.
They have wings (males have longer ones) but they cannot fly.
The interesting thing about them is that there are fewer males than females.
But it is also because of this that they could easily turn into pests infesting your garden.
Turkestan Cockroaches (Blatta lateralis)
This species shows a lot of gender dimorphism.
Females are larger than males.
This is the reason why they are also called the red runner cockroach or the rusty red cockroach.
Amber wood cockroach (Ectobius vittiventris)
The Amber wood cockroach is native to the Alps region.
As such, it thrives in very cold climates expanding its reach south Germany and some Swiss cities.
It is basically harmless but is also short-lived.
Virginia wood cockroach (Parcoblatta virginica)
It is a small wood cockroach with a maximum length of 0.5inch.
Males of this species are longer than females and have a tan/orange color.
Females on the other hand are short and narrow with dark brown (almost black) color.
Adults and nymphs share, however, a dark stained head.
This species is limited to the eastern US and Ontario in Canada.
They could fly, unlike other roaches.
They are not notorious home invaders although their attraction to light wounds occasionally takes them to your homes.
They are native to central and South America and their natural habitats are undisturbed caves and rainforests.
As such, when you find them outside their natural setting, they could be jumpy and somewhat aggressive.
Their diet consists of decaying fruits and plants as well as bat droppings.
They have hemolymphs inside their bodies, making them good, high-protein feed for reptiles and arachnids.
Males are longer in the body and wings and narrower than females.
It sports a brownish-yellow color with darker inner legs and dark brown markings all over.
Females have reddish-brown head casing and pale red-brown sides.
They also have dark brown abdomens and yellowish undersides.
They have wings but they do not fly.
It is quite similar in color and appearance with the Uhlers wood cockroach.
They also both niche in a disturbed forest and urban environments.
Out of the 4,500 recognized cockroach species, eight major types emerge to categorize them.
Most of them have wings but not all of them could fly.
Some cockroach types are also considered functional as they are deliberately bred as feeds for reptiles and pet tarantulas.
And if you have problems with a roach infestation, this is one step in proper roach identification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do roaches hate the most?
Extreme temperatures would be one.
Some roach species hate lights.
But in terms of smell, there is one scent that roaches hate the most: strong smells.
What time of year are roaches the worst?
Again, there are many ways to approach this question.
Cockroaches who live outdoors are most active during spring and summer (specifically early to mid-summer).
During autumn and winter, roaches tend to hibernate and will not be around so much.
During this time, they would just be inside their habitats or beneath your furniture.
What are the worst roaches to have?
When they are disturbed, they are said to attack humans andbite them.
These leaves itchy and bumpy skin that will stay there for some days.
What attracts roaches to your house?
The better question, perhaps, would be, what attracts roaches to clean houses.
Well, there are several reasons but the most common ones would be the following.
Related:What Do Cockroaches Eat?
A Look at the Diet of These Pesky Critters
Whattypes of flying cockroaches?
As have been mentioned here, cockroaches have wings but most of them cannot fly.
For those who cannot fly, the wings are just vestigial structures.
Flying cockroaches are usually the nocturnal ones.
They fly at night to search for food or refuge.
They also fly when they are attracted to bright outdoor lights or to evade threats.
Depending on the bang out of roach species, they could live for a few months to seven years.
Female roaches tend to live longer than males because of their role in reproduction.
In terms of species, the cockroach bang out with the longest lifespan would be the rhinoceros cockroach.
It is documented to have a lifespan of ten years.
Among common cockroaches, German cockroaches may have the fastest reproduction rate but they also have the shortest lifespan.
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