Brown Banded Cockroach
One of the smallest of the invasive cockroaches, the brown-banded cockroach may reach up to 14.5 mm in length. This type of colorful roaches received its name from the light brown or tan crosswise bands that are present on the wings of the adult roaches and across the body of the nymphs and youngs.
Brown-banded cockroaches can feed on almost anything from food waste to nylon stockings and even paper. These insects have been found to carry and spread harmful bacteria and protozoa which can cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis. In fact, roaches indoors have been found to trigger asthma and allergies. Also, these cockroaches are able to transfer disease organisms that cause food poisoning and dysentery by contaminating food, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces.
Brown-Banded cockroaches need warm temperatures to strive. As a result, they often enter our homes looking for warm shelter, but the most common way that brown-banded cockroaches get inside a home is when infested food items, furniture, and electronics are brought in.
German Cockroach
Adult German cockroaches can be easily recognized by their light brown to tan coloring with two dark stripes, located on their backs. Female German cockroaches tend to be darker than males. German cockroaches prefer warm and humid places close to food and moisture sources. They are frequently found in residential and commercial kitchen environments, and bathrooms, so these areas are the two most common places for an infestation to occur.
Droppings may appear as small, dark, material left on countertops or inside kitchen cupboards. When German cockroach populations are present in large numbers, it may be possible to detect a mild, unpleasant odor.
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches can be recognized by their shiny black to a dark reddish-brown color. As adults, female and male cockroaches, vary in different sizes, are quite different in appearance as well. Growing to only 25 mm in length, the smaller males have shortened, three-quarter-length wings.
Commonly oriental cockroaches gain entry into households by going under doors and through gaps as well as following pipes, sewers, and drains into a building. These pesky pests can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they wander through waste bins, sewers, and drains, and then they can transfer these germs onto foods and food preparation surfaces.
American Cockroach
Adult American cockroaches are mahogany-colored. The area behind their heads is outlined with a yellow band. American cockroaches can also fly. Their wings develop when the roaches become adults.
American cockroaches prefer warm and damp areas. They can easily pass under doors, gaps, and crevices. Basement windows and garages are also common entryways. The most common places where you can see American cockroaches are basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
