Cockroach Identification

Actual Size: 2.1 inches

Characteristics: Brown to reddish-brown; winged.

Legs: Six

Wings: Yes, adults have wings and can fly.

Antennae: Yes

Habitat: Primarily live outdoors but can be found in sewers and drains across the Northern United States. In the Southern United States, they are found in shady garden areas and yards.

Habits:

• Both sexes are capable of flight.

• Largest of the house-infesting cockroaches.

• Attracted to alcoholic beverages, especially beer.

Actual Size: 16 mm

Characteristics: Brown with two darker parallel bands running lengthwise.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, and they are capable of flying.

Habitat: Prefer outdoor areas in mulch, compost, leaf litter, and lawns.

Habits:

• Looks similar to German cockroaches, but prefers to live outdoors.

• Most commonly live in shaded areas, mulch, grass, and compost piles.

• May invade homes and buildings, but indoor infestations are rare occurrences.

Actual Size: 5/16 to 5/8″

Characteristics: Brown with pronounced banding across wings.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes

Habitat: Congregate in warm areas, often in closets or heat-generating appliances.

Habits:

• Lives indoors, completely dependent on human habitats for survival.

• One female brown-banded cockroach can produce 600 young in her lifetime.

• Prefers higher elevations and often found in the upper cabinets of kitchens and bathrooms.

Actual Size: 1/2″ to 5/8″

Characteristics: Pale brown with two dark longitudinal stripes behind the head.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, but rarely fly.

Habitat: Prefer humid, warm areas. Often found in residential and commercial kitchens as well as bathrooms. Usually in areas where people eat and drink.

Habits:

• Both sexes fully winged, but do not fly.

• Can live in big colonies as they reproduce quickly.

• Lives indoors, completely dependent on human habitats for survival.

Actual Size: 1 ¼”

Characteristics: Shiny; dark reddish-brown to black.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, but cannot fly.

Habitat: Primarily outdoors in sewers, under porches, and under debris, leaves, and stones. Inside, they inhabit basements and crawl spaces.

Habits:

• Usually, travels through sewer pipes and drains.

• Tend to be found on the lower floors of homes and buildings.

• Has a strong odor and is considered one of the “dirtiest” cockroaches.

Actual Size: 1 to1.5”

Characteristics: Uniform shiny mahogany brown

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, and both males and females can fly.

Habitat: Often found in crawl spaces or basements within properties.

Habits:

• Need moisture to survive.

• Adults can fly, especially on warm humid evenings.

• May invade structures, but often found dead indoors from dehydration.