How to identify and get rid of American cockroaches

There’s nothing worse than turning on your kitchen light at night and seeing something scurry across the floor. When that critter is a cockroach, there’s a high chance there’s more than one in your home.

American cockroaches have been plaguing the US since they were first brought over in the 18th century and have turned into a public health problem.

These ubiquitous pests are some of the largest roaches in the US and eat everything from grease and sweets to wallpaper paste and book bindings.

Cockroaches go through several growth stages or molts and the nymphs can be hard to distinguish from other cockroaches. However, the nymphs are usually solid brown without any vertical or horizontal stripes.

The adults have a head shield, known as a pronotum, that has a yellow edge around it. Their legs have spines on both sides of each leg and will have several appendages coming from the rear of the abdomen. Adults will also have very long antennae.

How big are American cockroaches?

American cockroaches are the largest cockroach species in the US and are very common pests. When they are adults, they can grow to a size of 1 ½ to 2 inches in length.

What other cockroaches look like an American cockroach?

Three cockroaches are the most common pests in both residential and commercial properties. The American cockroach is the largest and the German cockroach and oriental cockroach are often misidentified. This is especially true when they are small nymphs because they won’t always have the telltale markings like their adults.

However, American cockroach nymphs are solid reddish-brown, whereas German cockroach nymphs have a stripe down their center, and Oriental cockroaches have stripes across their abdomen.

Adult German cockroaches will be narrow, yellow, and striped, whereas Oriental cockroaches are black without any markings.

American cockroaches originated in the Middle East and Africa but can be found all over the world. They prefer warm and humid environments and can be found in basements, sewers, drains, and boiler rooms. They can also become problems in food storage facilities, food preparation areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and pantries.

When they aren’t infesting your home, they can be found outside in dead trees, wood piles, mulch, or under organic matter.

When a cockroach infestation is discovered, too often, homeowners want to bomb the place with insecticides. However, this approach is not effective and can lead to more problems.

Some American cockroaches can be resistant to certain insecticides, and won’t die once sprayed. The best strategies include prevention and sanitation.

It’s best to wipe up any food spills in your home and clean up any trash or waste. It’s also good to store any leftover food and never leave them out at night. Grease and drippings behind a stove can be the perfect breeding grounds for American cockroaches.

Excluding cockroaches from coming inside is best done by sealing any cracks in your siding, and fixing gaps in windows or doors. Leaks in bathrooms or basements can also invite unwanted cockroaches inside, as they prefer a humid environment.

If you notice cockroaches in or outside your home, insecticide bait stations placed in strategic areas away from the reach of children can be an effective strategy. You can also place boric acid in cracks and crevices where cockroaches scurry.

Finally, an insecticide spray on your baseboards inside and around the perimeter of the home can be a great way to deter cockroaches from settling inside. Pestie offers a pro-grade spray that is delivered to your door for year-round protection. It’s an easy DIY way to get great pest control where you need it most.