How To Identify Which Species Of Roach Is Infesting Your Home

There are plenty of reasons to dislike roaches, whether it's their ability to spread disease, their foul odors, or the allergic reactions they cause in some individuals. When you see evidence of these pests in your own home, you may be wondering how to determine which cockroach is infesting it. At the same time, you'll be looking for ways to eradicate them. There are, after all, many species of cockroaches. You can identify these unwanted insects based on their visual appearance, size, location, and whether they fly.

There are at least 69 cockroach species in the U.S., so each part of the country has local problematic, harmless, or native cockroach species. However, there are four species of roaches homeowners and renters across the country are most likely to find infesting their living spaces. These include the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa), and German cockroach (Blattella germanica). The last roach species is particularly difficult to kill off once it has appeared in your home.

German cockroaches are a flightless species that reach just over ½ inch long. They are light brown or tan with two long, dark stripes starting behind their heads. Brown-banded cockroaches measure ¾ inch long at adulthood and are light brown or brown. Only the males of this species can fly. Reaching about 1 inch long, Oriental cockroaches, sometimes called waterbugs, are dark brown or black. These roaches produce a strong smell but don't fly. American cockroaches are reddish brown except for the rounded body part between the head and thorax, which is pale brown. These roaches reach about 2 inches long and are able to fly in the Southern U.S. If you're struggling to identify a roach species based on its appearance, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for help.

Physical differences aren't the only thing you can use to identify roach species. While most cockroaches prefer dark, moist locations, some of these insects have other hangout preferences. German cockroaches like to congregate in kitchens and bathrooms. You're most likely to find Oriental cockroaches in basements or under sinks. On the other hand, brown-banded cockroaches don't need humid locations; they prefer high spots in the home, like the top of walls or in ceilings. American cockroaches are more commonly found in food service establishments than houses. Examine these pests carefully when they show up dead in the traps you set after discovering an infestation. Correct identification is the key to getting rid of unwanted roaches in your home.