Cockroach Identification Guide Across the Mid West and East Coast

What are cockroaches?

Cockroaches are hearty, difficult to control, and super adaptable insects. The roaches in the list below have all learned to live near people because we help them gain access to their basic needs.

Cockroaches vary in appearance and size depending on the species, but in general, roaches have a flat, oval-shaped body, long antennae, and six spiny covered legs. Some roaches have fully developed wings and may fly short distances, and others have underdeveloped wings and are unable to fly. However, whether winged or not, it is more common to see a roach running across a room than flying.

The four most common species of cockroaches living in our area and across the United States and that regularly invade our homes and businesses include:

• German cockroaches
• American cockroaches
• Oriental cockroaches
• Brown-banded cockroaches

Are cockroaches dangerous?

Never a pest you want to have inside your home, cockroaches can cause many problems for people and our property. Before finding their way inside, cockroaches were outside living and foraging for food in garbage dumps, sewers, drains, and other less than sanitary environments. They carry a wide variety of bacteria, human pathogens, and parasites that cause illness in people on their body and legs. Cockroaches will make quick work of contaminating food and surfaces of any structure they invade.

There are other issues with cockroaches when they get into our homes:

• Roaches cause food stored in kitchens and pantries to develop an unpleasant taste.
• They create an unpleasant odor in areas of a home they infest.
• Cockroaches will chew through or stain fabrics, paper items, walls, or floors with excrement.
• A cockroach’s feces and shed skins trigger cold-like symptoms and allergies and asthma attacks in children and susceptible adults.

Why do I have a cockroach problem?

Any home with warm, humid living conditions close to food sources will attract cockroaches. Cockroaches “Trojan horse” their way into homes inside appliances, used furniture, electronics, boxes, deliveries, and potted plants. They also move into homes on their own while out foraging for food or searching for suitable shelter.

Once inside, roaches hide during the day in dark, quiet areas squeezing their flat bodies into any crack or crevice they discover. Because they breed quickly, a few finding the way into your home and going unnoticed will lead to a large-scale, difficult to control cockroach infestation.

Where will I find cockroaches in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, or Massachusetts?

German cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and American cockroaches are all attracted to warm, humid living conditions. Inside, they are most likely to live in the following areas:

• Basements
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Utility rooms

The brown-banded cockroach prefers places that are less humid and more hot and dry. Therefore, these roaches like to take up residence in attics, upper cabinets, closets, and inside of electronics.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

Urbanex is the best choice to get rid of cockroaches from your property. We offer our customers peace of mind knowing that problems with nuisance or dangerous pests will be solved and won’t return. At Urbanex, we offer modern and effective pest control services that provide maximum results. To learn why so many home and business owners trust us with their pest control needs, reach out to us today!

How can I prevent cockroaches in the future?

Prevent problems in the future with cockroaches with the help of the experts at Urbanex. In addition, use the following cockroach prevention tips:

• Limit the food in your home that cockroaches eat by restricting eating to the kitchen and dining areas. Vacuum the floors and wipe down tables daily. Don’t store food out in the open on counters or tables. Store fruits, vegetables, and baked goods in the fridge.
• Remove garbage from your property every week.
• Cockroaches are scavengers and also feed on toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. Keep bathroom areas neat and tidy and wipe down sinks daily.
• Look over the outside of your home and seal cracks in the foundation and exterior walls. Place door sweeps under exterior doors and put covers over vents and drains entering your home.
• Limit the number of places cockroaches can hide in your home by keeping clutter to a minimum.
• Use plastic totes with locking lids instead of cardboard boxes to store items.
• Inspect things like potted plants, appliances, furniture, and deliveries for cockroaches before bringing them inside.