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Common Cockroach Species
There are over 3,000 different species of cockroaches - some are considered pests while others are beneficial in their natural environment. Pest cockroaches can be carriers of various diseases and the German cockroach, Oriental cockroach, American cockroach and Brown banded cockroach species are common species that are considered pests.
Spotted a cockroach scurrying across the kitchen? Learn to identify between cockroach species to address an infestation more effectively:
German cockroaches
(Blatella germanica)
Appearance
Notorious for their world-wide distribution, German cockroaches are easily identifiable by 2 dark stripes across their thorax. Adults grow to approximately 12 – 15mm in length.
Life cycle and habits of a German cockroach
Habitat
Most commonly found indoors, German cockroaches prefer wet, humid conditions and are typically found within the home in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Oriental cockroaches
(Blatta orientalis)
Appearance
A uniform dark brown or black in colour, adult Oriental cockroaches are approximately 20 – 30mm in length.
Life cycle and habits of a Oriental Cockroach
Habitat
Highly adapted for surviving in the natural environment, Oriental cockroaches thrive in cool, damp areas such as basements, drains and openings beneath porches. Known for their preference for feeding on garbage and decay, these insects can most commonly be found in rubbish tips and leaf litters.
American cockroaches
(Periplaneta Americana)
Appearance
One of the largest pest cockroaches to invade homes, adult American cockroaches are approximately 28 – 44mm in length and a red-brown in colour.
Life cycle and habits of a American Cockroach
Habitat
Also known as the ‘Palmetto bug’ because they live on trees, the American cockroach prefers dark, humid and undisturbed areas and can be found in basements, kitchens and bathrooms of homes.
Brown Banded cockroaches
(Supella longipalpa)
Appearance
One of the smallest pest cockroaches, brown banded adult cockroaches are approximately 10 – 15mm in length and characterized by yellow-brown stripes across their abdomen.
Life cycle and habits of a Brown Banded Cockroach
Habitat
Brown banded cockroaches mostly stay on ground, but may fly in very warm climates. Their preference for warm, humid environments leads them to harbourages within heated buildings - ceilings, attics, inside and around appliance motors. Primarily active at night, these opportunistic feeders particularly enjoy materials with high starch contents.