Cockroach Types and What Each One Means
Which cockroach you have tells you where it came from and how serious the problem is.
German cockroach
Small, light brown, with two dark stripes behind the head. This is the one that lives indoors, mostly in kitchens and bathrooms, and breeds fast. Seeing these means you likely have an infestation.
American cockroach
Large, reddish-brown, with a pale outline behind the head. Usually comes from sewers, drains, and basements. One or two wandering in doesn't always mean a colony in the house.
Oriental cockroach
Dark, shiny, and slower. Often called a "water bug" and found in cool, damp places like drains, crawl spaces, and under sinks.
Brown-banded cockroach
Small, with light bands across the wings. They prefer warm, dry, higher spots like behind picture frames, in furniture, and near electronics.
What to do
- Wipe up food and grease, and keep food in sealed containers. Roaches need water and food.
- Fix or report leaks, and keep sinks and counters dry overnight.
- Avoid store-bought sprays and baits. They can scatter roaches and make professional treatment harder.
- Call a pro. Cockroaches multiply quickly and hide where home products can't reach.
Cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma, so a lasting problem is worth taking seriously.