We’ve all been there – you walk into your kitchen to grab a late-night snack and right as you reach for the oreos, you see a gigantic roach dart across your floor. How are you going to track it, kill it and stop others from following in its footsteps? A great starting place is identifying which type of cockroach it is. Did you know that there are actually thousands of species of them? We’re going to break down the top three that we typically come across in Louisiana to help you decipher your unwelcomed visitors.
American Cockoach
Sometimes known as the palmetto or water bug, American cockroaches are the biggest commonly-found species – often living outdoors, but making their way in for sustenance.
Identifying features:
- Reddish brown in color with a yellow stripe behind the head
- About 32-54 mm in length
- Will fly sometimes
- Will gather together in open spaces
Where are they found and what are they looking for?
- American cockroaches are often found outside in warm, moist areas like flowerbeds and near trees, but they will go inside in search of food or water or in response to a climate change
- They often enter through cracks under doors, in crawl spaces and garages
- Inside, you can find them in places where crumbs, food particles and fermenting materials collect, like under appliances and in cabinets and pantries
German Cockroach
One of the smallest types of cockroaches, German roaches are one of the most well-known indoor roaches with the ability to easily travel via plumbing and through bags, boxes and furniture brought into the home.
Identifying features:
- Light brown in color with two black stripes behind the head
- About 13-16 mm in length
- Fly infrequently, although they do have wings
Where are they found and what are they looking for?
- German cockroaches prefer to live indoors and scavenge off of not only food droppings, but also things like garbage, books, hair and dog food
- They gravitate toward dark, warm places, like around the wiring of electronics, under appliances and near trash cans
Smoky Brown Cockroach
A relative of the American cockroach, Smoky Brown cockroaches are large, nocturnal flying creatures that prefer the outdoors and non-dwelling places, but sometimes find their way indoors, often unnoticed.
Identifying features:
- Dark mahogany or black in color with a shiny texture
- About 33-38 mm in length
- Often fly, with wings larger than their bodies
Where are they found and what are they looking for?
- Smoky Brown cockroaches prefer warm, humid areas outside like in tree crevices, mulch, woodpiles, gutters and greenhouses
- Because they get dehydrated easily, they are often found close to sources of water and feed on decaying plant and organic matter
- They usually enter homes through sewers or fly in through doors and windows to toward light to take refuge in areas like attics and crawl spaces
If you suspect any of the above cockroaches to be present on your property, the easiest, most effective way to get rid of them for good is with the help of a professional pest control company. Because cockroaches carry diseases and can be harmful to the health of your household, frequent sightings should not be taken lightly. Contact The Bug Man to clear cockroaches up today – we’ll do the dirty work so you don’t have to.
