Cockroaches
Nuisance
Image: AI-generated illustration
What it is
Flattened, fast-moving insects that hide in cracks and dark harborages and usually forage at night. Different species favor different moisture and temperature conditions, and infestations can contaminate food and trigger allergies.
How to recognize it
Flat, oval insects that scatter when the lights come on, plus droppings like pepper or coffee grounds.
Where you will find it
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, drains, and warm appliances.
Why it matters
They contaminate food, can trigger allergies and asthma, and reproduce quickly.
What to do
- Clean up food crumbs and grease, wash dishes promptly, and store food, including pet food, in airtight containers.
- Wipe up standing water and report leaky pipes or damp areas.
- Note and photograph where you see roaches, such as near drains, behind appliances, or under sinks.
- Contact a licensed pest professional before trying any home remedy. Store-bought products can scatter roaches and make professional treatment harder.
When to call a professional
- You see more than one roach, especially young ones, which suggests breeding nearby.
- Roaches appear during the day or in several rooms.
- Anyone has asthma or allergies, or you manage a food business.
Related reading
Related pests
American Roaches
Large reddish-brown cockroaches that favor warm, damp areas such as sewers, basements, boiler rooms, commercial kitchens, and utility spaces. They can travel long distances through drains and service lines.
Read more →Brown-Banded Roaches
Small cockroaches with pale bands across the wings or abdomen. They prefer warmer, drier areas than German cockroaches and may infest upper cabinets, furniture, electronics, bedrooms, and offices.
Read more →German Roaches
Small tan cockroaches with two dark stripes behind the head. They breed quickly in warm kitchens and bathrooms, can aggravate allergies and asthma, and are hard to clear without professional help.
Read more →Oriental Roaches
Dark brown to black cockroaches that prefer cool, damp environments such as basements, crawlspaces, floor drains, sewers, and utility areas. They are less agile on smooth surfaces than some other cockroach species.
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.