About Cockroaches
INTRODUCTION: The German cockroach is the most common of the cockroaches. In addition to being a nuisance, it has been implicated in outbreaks of illness, the transmission of a variety of pathogenic organisms and allergic reactions in many people. This species has worldwide distribution.
RECOGNITION: Adults about 1/2″ to 5/8″ long, color light brown to tan. Female darker than male, abdomen broader. Rarely glide or “fly.”
SIMILAR GROUPS: (Adults only).
- Asian cockroach with almost identical color pattern, attracted to lights, flies readily, breeds outdoors in leaf litter, presently known only from Florida, identification should be confirmed by an expert.
- Brownbanded cockroach and Pennsylvania wood cockroach lack two dark longitudinal stripes on pronotal shield.
- Field cockroach with a median dark line between eyes on front of head.
- Other cockroaches are either smaller or larger, lack characteristic pronotal stripes and/or are not associated with structures.
