How To Identify German vs. Oriental vs. American Cockroaches
If you’ve spotted roaches, you might want to know which of the common varieties you’re dealing with.
German cockroaches, oriental cockroaches, and American cockroaches all look and act a little differently. If you have a cockroach infestation, contact our team at IPM Pest and Termite with locations in Lexington, Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky. We serve the surrounding area and can eliminate them for you, fast.
Overview of the German Cockroach
German cockroaches are small roaches. As adults, they only reach about 5/8 of an inch. German cockroaches prefer to hide in warm, wet places, like kitchens and bathrooms. They’ll spend time near pipes, where they have easy access to water. The females lay more eggs per case, 30-40, than any other cockroach. In their short lives, they lay about 5 cases.
If you have an infestation, one way to spot them is to quickly turn on a light and watch them scatter. You might also notice their black, pepper-colored droppings or their egg casings.
Overview of the American Cockroach
The largest cockroaches in the United States that live in homes, American cockroaches are reddish-brown in color, and they grow to be up to 2 inches long. They love water, so you’ll mostly find them in and under sinks, bathtubs, and sewer drains. Usually, they move into homes when it’s hot and flooding.
American cockroaches live about 440 days and are adults after 24 weeks, roughly 168 days. At this point, they can reproduce, and they have wings. Adult females produce 15-90 egg capsules. These capsules hold 14-16 eggs.
American cockroaches can transmit disease. Even seeing one, especially during the day, can indicate an infestation.
Overview of the Oriental Cockroach
Roughly an inch long, Oriental cockroaches are shiny and black and may be mistaken for water beetles. They glide through sewer pipes and trash shoots and eat anything, including fecal matter, posing a health risk. Indoors, they’re found in crawl spaces and basements. They need water to survive and will die without it in under two weeks.
It usually takes them a year or two to reach adulthood. As adults, they live up to 6 months, and in that time, females lay 8-16 egg capsules, each holding about 16 eggs.
If you have an infestation, you’ll likely notice black fecal matter that looks like coffee grounds and their shed skins. You’ll also smell a musty scent.
When to Call IPM Pest and Termite
If you see a cockroach, it’s likely you have an infestation, and it’s time to call. We’ll get rid of them quickly, and we’ll eliminate their eggs. We’ll also identify how they’re getting it and seal off those locations. We like to educate you, so you know what to look for and how to prevent further infestations.
Contact Us for Pest and Termite Removal
If you’ve realized you have pests, it’s time to make some changes, but it starts with thorough elimination. At IPM Pest and Termite near Lexington, Kentucky, we have all the training necessary to completely eliminate your pest control problems. We deal with everything from termites to seasonal critters like mice and moles.
Request a consultation by completing our contact form. We serve the greater Lexington, KY area at (859) 340-1403, including Nicholasville, Versailles, Georgetown, Richmond, and Winchester, KY ; and reach our team in the greater Louisville area by calling (502) 399-4536.
