American cockroaches (a.k.a. water bugs) are one of the biggest problem pests in the U.S. Before they can become a dangerous problem in your home, follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to get rid of American roaches like a pro by treating indoors and outdoors.
Use a flashlight and mirror to check kitchen cabinets and the spaces under and around appliances for signs of American roaches.
Focus on dark, damp places that are hard to reach but close to food sources.
Examine storage boxes thoroughly for eggs, foul odors and other signs of roach activity.
Check under rocks and in wood piles and the mulch around your house.
Look for tiny, purse-shaped egg cases. They’ll be reddish-brown, just like the roaches. Each egg case can contain over 15 eggs, so an infestation can get out of control quickly.
Exterminate: Use Insecticides to Kill Roaches
It’s time to exterminate like a pro. Start by placing glue traps in different areas of the house to see where the roaches are concentrated.
Once you’ve narrowed down the location of their nest, apply several drops of gel bait along nearby walls and surfaces. Gel bait is the most effective, low maintenance solution available. Just apply a few tiny drops, spread 2 to 3 feet apart.
To stand a better chance against large infestations, use an IGR—an insect growth regulator—that will stop them from reproducing and multiplying.
Finally, you can use a perimeter spray for ongoing protection against any American roaches still hanging around outside (some work inside, too).
Want a pet-safe solution for killing cockroaches? Check out our instructions for applying diatomaceous earth and borax powder—two natural pesticide dusts.
Prevent Roaches from Ever Coming Back
American cockroaches come from outside. Start by cleaning up any leaves, branches and piles of wood around the walls of your house.
Use a rake to spread mulch into a thinner layer to avoid trapping moisture and attracting American roaches.
Check the walls and foundation for cracks and crevices that can let roaches in. Seal them up with steel wool or caulking.
Don’t forget to seal the gaps around plumbing and wiring, too.
Inside, commit to regular cleaning habits.
Vacuum and sweep floors daily and wash dishes to eliminate roaches’ food sources.
Wipe the counter and stove top with all-purpose cleaner to scrub away grease stains and crumbs.
Use hard containers to store all leftovers, open food packages and pantry items.
Organize and declutter storage rooms.
American roaches love hiding in cardboard boxes—use plastic bins instead.
Protect Your Home
Maintain your defenses. To be a pro, it’s important to regularly inspect, repair and reapply cockroach treatments, if necessary.
Make sure storage rooms are well-ventilated and organized.
Repair any faucets that drip or pipes that leak (especially under sinks and along walls outside).
Notes
American cockroaches can fly. Use screens in all doors and windows that you tend to leave open. Don’t eat any food that smells musty or stale—it could have been contaminated by cockroaches. Read all warning labels and instructions before using insecticide products.
Cockroach Facts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Can you ever completely get rid of roaches? That’s the question every homeowner who’s dealt with these dangerous pests in the past wants to know.
The answer… is yes!
Need Product Recommendations?
A handful of easy-to-use products can solve most cockroach problems.
We’ll show you how to get rid of cockroaches forever with a comprehensive, effective, powerful pest control solution that you can start in your home today.
Discovering Why You Have Roaches
“I keep my house clean, I keep a can of roach spray under the sink and I’ve already used a bug bomb in my kitchen… and I still have roaches!”
If that sounds like you, you’re probably wondering why you even have roaches in your clean house. You might think you’ve sealed up any food sources and killed most of the bugs with the spray. But roach bombs don’t work and those few roaches you’ve killed are signs that there are many more hiding.
To get rid of roaches forever, it takes a strategic, multi-step game plan—and we’ve put one together for you.
Let’s get to it!
The Game Plan: How to Get Rid of Roaches Forever
Our 4-step, highly effective system for killing cockroaches and keeping them out:
Pre-Game: Find the Roaches, Analyze the Opposition
1. Pre-Game: Find the Roaches, Analyze the Opposition
If you’ve seen one of the cockroaches, try to remember some details about it to help you identify the type of roach you’re dealing with. What color was it? How big or small was it? Did it have wings?
Then, try to pinpoint where they’re coming from. Some of the most common entry points include cracks in the walls, gaps around plumbing and spaces around window frames.
Sticky roach traps could help you determine which rooms have been hit the hardest. The traps that catch the most roaches will be those nearest their hiding place—their nest.
2. Offense: Gel Bait, Insecticidal Dust, IGR’s and Natural Approaches to Roach Control
You have a few good choices when it comes to killing cockroaches quickly and effectively at home. The first option is gel bait. We’ve put together a detailed guide to show you exactly how to use gel bait but here are the basics.
Suggested Products
To Find Cockroach Hiding Spots and Kill Roaches Fast When You Have Just a Few
Exterminator’s Choice Sticky Glue Traps
Used to measure and monitor a cockroach infestation and provide some supplemental control.
P.I. is a pyrethrin-based spray insecticide that kills roaches fast. Best when used as a supplement to other treatments, it’s not inexpensive, but far more effective than off-the-shelf sprays.
Insecticidal dusts like CimeXa work best when applied with a duster tool. This inexpensive diatomaceous earth duster works fine with CimeXa, Delta Dust, and other recommended dusts.
Advion first poisons the roaches that eat it, then others in a secondary kill. For the most effective indoor treatment, combine with CimeXa insecticidal dust and Gentrol IGR.
Gentrol is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that interferes with roach reproduction. It’s most effective used alongside Advion Gel Bait and CimeXa insecticidal dust.
When used on exterior foundations, entries, and walls, Suspend insecticidal liquid stops outdoor roaches before they get in. It requires a separate sprayer (see below), and works best alongside a granular outdoor bait like Intice and an outdoor crack and crevice treatment like Delta Dust.
InTice is a granular bait that kills roaches outdoors and in spaces like your garage or attic. Used alongside a spray treatment like Bayer Suspend and a crack and crevice treatment like Delta Dust, it can protect the entire perimeter of your home.
Waterproof and long-lasting, Delta Dust is a crack and crevice treatment effective in high-moisture areas such as attics, exterior walls, and plumbing lines. Delta Dust is regulated and unavailable in some areas.
Gel bait (which also comes in bait stations) brings cockroaches out of their hiding spots and then hits them with a powerful dose of insecticide. That poison is so potent, it gets passed onto more roaches within the colony that eat the first.
That effective roach-to-roach transmission is why gel bait can wipe out entire cockroach infestations. Only apply a few drops of roach bait at a time—that’s all it takes. For our more detailed Cockroach Gel Bait Guide look here.
Insecticidal Dust
Insecticidal dusts kill roaches by adhering to their bodies and damaging their shells. Roaches crawl through the dust and die of dehydration within several days. Extremely effective inside cracks and crevices, it’s a perfect complement to gel bait, giving you a powerful one-two punch when you use them both.
Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)
IGR’s deprive roaches of their ability to repopulate, leaving roach colonies that would otherwise explode on their own, to simply… fade away. Alongside baits and dusts, it brings you yet another level of control, for a nearly unbeatable (if you use them right) one-two-three punch.
Outdoor Roaches
Outdoor roach killers work in a similar way. There are special outdoor baits and dusts, and long-lasting waterproof sprays. Be careful with these products, though. They’re so effective, you may end up killing beneficial insects, too.
How to Kill Cockroaches Naturally
Gel bait is an incredibly effective roach killer but if you have young children or curious pets, you might not want to spread pesticides around your home.
DE is a fine powder that kills roaches by dehydrating them when they crawl through it, sticking to their legs and damaging their exoskeletons. Borax and Boric acid (which comes from the same mineral as borax), are similar solutions that are deadly to roaches when mixed with baits like sugar or peanut butter and eaten.
For the strongest offense, combine these solutions to hit cockroaches in the open and in their hideouts. And to eliminate any roaches that survive the baits and powders, add an insect growth regulator (IGR) so they can’t continue to reproduce.
With strategic placement and repeated treatments, these easily-accessible products could eliminate your cockroach problem in a month or less.
Does baking soda and sugar really kill roaches?
Yes, baking soda is toxic to cockroaches when enough of it is eaten. Mixing it with sugar attracts the roaches to the baking soda. Just place a little in a shallow dish and leave it out where they can find it. Don’t expect it to work as well as the products above, however.2
Does salt kill cockroaches?
This one’s a myth. Salt doesn’t kill cockroaches.1
However, epsom salt (a.k.a. magnesium sulfate) is toxic to roaches. Use it just like baking soda.3
Does lemon kill cockroaches?
Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that lemons kill or even repel cockroaches.
Does vinegar kill roaches?
Vinegar doesn’t kill cockroaches, either. However, you can use it to clean—a great way to battle roaches.
3. Defense: Seal, Repair and Repel
It’s a myth that roaches only infest dirty homes. Roaches will infest any home where they can find food and water and a dark, damp place to hide. Removing the things that attract roaches will help turn their attention away from your home.
For these pests, it’s all about finding a way in. The harder you make that, the lower the risk of a roach infestation.
Your defense starts outside, where you’ll have to seal up every crack, crevice, hole and gap you find in the exterior walls. That includes spaces where plumbing and wiring enter your house as well as vents from the bathroom or the kitchen.
Then, check for leaking faucets, blocked gutters, dripping pipes and other areas of poor drainage that could act as water sources for roaches. If possible, store your garbage away from the house. Roaches love to hide in mulch, too. By spreading your mulch in a thin layer—only about an inch deep—it’ll trap less moisture and attract fewer roaches.
If you’re still not happy with the results you’re seeing or you’re afraid there are just too many roaches to take on alone, call your local pest control service for help. They’ll do the dirty work so you can get back to enjoying your home, roaches not included.
4. Maintain: Keep Up the Good Work
Even after you’ve successfully eliminated a roach infestation, there’s always a chance more could find their way in if you’re not dedicated to your game plan. Defense is an ongoing project, so keep your eyes open for newly formed cracks, broken window screens or other potential entry points that’ll pop up from time to time.
Simple routines are all it takes to keep cockroaches away for good. That includes cleaning regularly, keeping storage rooms well-ventilated, decluttering cardboard boxes and protecting the outside of your house with caulking, steel wool or a perimeter spray.
In the kitchen, take a minute to clean out the toaster and wipe down the grease pans on the stove. Using drain covers prevents roaches from climbing up from the sewer. Finally, don’t forget to seal all food items in plastic, glass or metal containers—you don’t want roaches feasting on your leftovers or in your pantry.
Conclusion
Whether this is your first face-off against roaches or your fifth, don’t give up hope! We’ve broken down exactly how to get rid of cockroaches forever and with a little determination, you can do it!
Omg, Barb, et al. (2006) Cockroach Control Manual. University of Nebraska Extension.
How to Kill Roaches Naturally With Sugar and Baking Soda. Hunker. Retrieved from https://www.hunker.com/12137594/how-to-kill-roaches-naturally-with-sugar-and-baking-soda
Knott, Rota L. (2017) Epsom Salt Pest Control Mixture. Garden Guides. Retrieved from https://www.gardenguides.com/info_8673738_epsom-salt-pest-control-mixture.html
How to Get Rid of Roaches. Home Depot. Retrieved from https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/how-to-get-rid-of-roaches/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90c52d8e9f
Picard, Caroline and Amanda Garrity (2020) How to Get Rid of Roaches in 5 Easy Steps, According to Pest Control Experts. Good Housekeeping. Retrieved from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/a47840/how-to-get-rid-of-roaches/
If there’s one thing you can count on in the tropics, it’s running into some impressive creepy crawlies.
And as you might expect, in addition to all the geckos, ants, and giant centipedes, there are cockroaches in Hawaii, too. While most are harmless thankfully, a few are definitely not good bugs to have around.
Let’s look at the more dangerous roaches in Hawaii, then explore some strategies to get rid of them if you discover you have a problem.
Of the 19 cockroach species that Hawaii lays claim to, only 4 are considered significant pests.
Two of them are “domestic,” or indoor roaches that specifically target Hawaiian homes. Two others are “peridomestic” roaches that mostly live outdoors, but enter homes and businesses when certain conditions are met.
We’ll begin with the outdoor ones, starting with a bug that’s impossible to miss—
The American “B52” Cockroach
Type: Outdoor/Indoor Cockroach
About
Known as the “B52 roach” among locals, the biggest, boldest, and most “in your face” of these pests is the American cockroach—a notorious flying cockroach Hawaii borders on being famous for.
Appearance
Found across the islands, and more than two inches long, it’s not only the biggest cockroach in Hawaii, but the largest cockroach in the United States.
If the sheer size of this bug doesn’t startle you when you see it, its ability to fly – sometimes directly toward you – should be enough to do the trick.
Should you encounter a creature that looks like an American cockroach but is wingless (and probably smaller), it’s likely to be a baby American cockroach. You’ll be able to recognize both by their characteristic reddish-brown color, exceedingly long antennae, and the cream-colored, mottled cowl behind their heads.
Habits
As outdoor/indoor roaches, you’ll find these bugs just about everywhere outside, especially yards, gardens, trash, and sewers where water is abundant and there’s plenty for them to eat.
Indoors, they seek out and colonize the moist areas of homes like bathrooms, kitchen sinks and drains. When they do come inside, they bring with them all sorts of dangerous bacteria and allergens from things they’ve crawled through and ingested.
Read how to solve an American cockroach problem here.
The Surinam Cockroach
An adult Surinam cockroach and two nymphs.
Type: Outdoor Cockroach
About
Much smaller than the American cockroach, at about an inch long, the Surinam cockroach is brown to black in color and not much of a flyer (females can’t fly at all). It’s a common Hawaiian pest that tunnels through trash, soil, and compost, munching on decaying plant material and damaging living roots and stems.
Habits
Found widely across Oahu, Kaui, Molokai, Maui, Lanai, Nihoa, the Big Island, and French Frigate Shoals, you’re unlikely to see these roaches in the daytime, but will see them scatter quickly should you kick over something they’ve infested.
Special problems
If you grow flowers like roses or lilies, or pineapple, these pests will already be on your radar for the damage they can do.
If you raise chickens, you’ll probably be familiar with them, too. The Surinam cockroach has a special liking for the feces around chicken coops and is a carrier of chicken eye worm, which can damage chicken’s eyes and potentially blind them.
The German Cockroach
The German cockroach, one of the most common bugs in Hawaii houses.
Type: Indoor Cockroach
About
German cockroaches can be found in nearly every area of Hawaii that has human structures.
They’re a dangerous roach that can carry disease and transmit allergens—and they breed quickly. German roaches can cause infestations so intense that even professional pest control workers sometimes find them challenging to control.
If you’re not already familiar with German cockroaches and own or rent property of any kind, you’d do well to memorize what they look like and be on the lookout for them well before they appear.
Appearance
These aggressive invaders are light brown to pale yellow in color, with flat bodies and long yellow wings. At about half an inch long (sometimes much less) they’re tiny compared to outdoor species like the American cockroach, and can be distinguished by two stripes that run lengthwise down the cowl behind their heads.
German roaches are so small that even in a growing infestation, they can be easily missed. You’ll want to keep an eye out for their young, too. Baby German roaches known as nymphs can be as small as half a grain of rice. With the exception of wings which they grow later, they look almost identical to the adults, and are just as dangerous.
Habits
Your house, condominium, hotel room—even your car are fair game for German cockroaches in Hawaii. They thrive in the islands’ tropical warmth and flourish in human environments.
If you find you have these pests, there are many ways they could have gotten in. They could have hitched a ride inside a bag of groceries, a piece of luggage, or a second-hand purchase. If you live in an apartment or condo, they could have traveled into your unit through the walls.
Read how to solve a German cockroach problem here.
The Brown-Banded Cockroach
Type: Indoor Cockroach
About
If roaches have you climbing the walls, the brown-banded cockroach will be more than happy to join you there.
Though not quite as common as other roaches thanks to a parasite that nearly wiped them out, brown-banded infestations still occur. And like other roaches in Hawaii, the tropical warmth can help them thrive.
Habits
For an indoor roach, the brown-banded cockroach is an unusual little pest.
In contrast to the German cockroach, it prefers spaces with less direct access to food and water, like closets, living rooms, and garages. It also prefers to live “up high,” where warmth collects and the air is drier—areas like ceilings, picture frames, shelving, furniture, and the upper corners of walls and moldings.
Once on your walls and other high-up spaces, they’ll breed, attach their eggs to the undersides of things, and eat essentially anything they can find, including paper, cardboard, and the glues that hold your drawers, shelves, and picture frames together.
Appearance
If you think you might have brown-banded roaches, they can easily be identified by their size (they’re about the size of German roaches) and the brown bands that stretch across their abdomens.
Read how to solve a brown-banded cockroach problem here.
Spot a roach that didn’t look like the American, Surinam, or brown-banded cockroach? There are a couple of other possibilities. It could be an Oriental cockroach which loves cool, damp spaces, and thrives in landfills, sewers (and unfortunately, bathrooms). It could also be an Australian cockroach, which looks a lot like the American cockroach, but invades homes far less often.
Read how to solve an Oriental cockroach problem here, or an Australian cockroach problem here.
Steps to Solving a Hawaii Roach Problem
Roach problems are best tackled head-on, and in steps. And regardless of the roach, some of the steps are similar.
Step 1: Removing food and water sources
The first step begins with starving roaches out—sealing up foods they could otherwise get into, cleaning up crumbs and spills throughout your home that would otherwise feed them, and making sure your garbage is well away from your home, sealed up nice and tight, or both.
It also means finding and eliminating any sources of water that could be luring roaches in, or if they’ve already gotten in, could be keeping them alive. Drips, leaky pipes, or surfaces where condensation regularly occurs.
If roaches have infested your car or truck, the same rules apply there too. Clear out any food, empty soft drink cans, food wrappers and leftover coffee cups that may be lying around, then vacuum up every trace of crumbs, smudges, or smears that could provide a roach a snack.
Step 2: Buttoning up your home
The second step is about keeping roaches out by sealing up your home. This can be more challenging in tropical environments where homes don’t have to button up against the cold.
This step begins by inspecting your home for potential entry points—gaps, cracks and crevices, or holes in your walls that a roach might squeeze through. Once you find them, carefully seal them up using supplies like wood filler, steel or copper mesh, and silicone caulk.
Step 3: Extermination
The final step is extermination, which you can either have done professionally (see how to hire a roach exterminator) or tackle on your own, using pest-specific strategies that begin here:
Now that you know a little more about cockroaches in Hawaii (and hopefully the problem bug you came here for), it’s time to reclaim your space and peace of mind. With a little effort, you can end your Hawaiian cockroach problem, hopefully for a good long time. ALOHA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there cockroaches in Maui?
Yes, there are roaches in Maui, both the huge flying American “B52” roaches, and tiny German cockroaches which infest kitchen and pantry areas. If you’re a resident, you know about them already. If you’re a guest or visitor, your hotel or rental manager will (hopefully) be taking care of them before they become a problem.
Are there cockroaches in Kauai?
Yes, there are roaches in Kauai, too. As on the other islands, they’re to some degree a fact of life.
Sources
Mark K.H. Leong and J. Kenneth Grace (2008) Occurrence and Distribution of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae), Cockroaches (Blattodea), Centipedes (Chilopoda), and Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of Public Health Importance on the Island of Oahu. Retrieved from http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ctahr/termite/aboutcontact/grace/pdfs/248.pdf
Calvin W. Schwabe (1948) Observations on the Life History of Pycnoscelus surinamensis (JLinn.), the Intermediate Host of the Chicken Eyeworm in Hawaii. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5104646.pdf
German roaches have a reputation for being the worst of the worst when it comes to cockroach problems. And with so much focus on the adults, you might assume that a baby German roach or two is the least of your worries, But…
Cue dramatic music…
These terrible, tiny pests are the most telling sign of an established—and growing infestation.
When it comes to the baby German cockroach, step one is identifying them, and steps 2 through “whatever-it-takes,” are getting rid of them.
A German cockroach nymph with long thin antennae, six spiny legs, a pair of cerci, and a flattened, hard-shelled wingless body.
Take your worst nightmare and shrink it down to half the size of a ladybug. Flat, oval-shaped and six-legged: that’s your baby German cockroach.
They’re usually dark brown to black in color but newly hatched and molting nymphs are soft and white as their fresh exoskeletons harden. Older nymphs look more and more like adults, eventually growing wings in the final stage before adulthood.
Even as a baby, a German roach’s antennae are longer than its body, and it carries a pair of sensory appendages called cerci it will use throughout its life. Baby German roaches already feature their signature pattern: a pair of parallel black bands that begin behind their heads and run the rest of the length of their bodies. You might need a magnifying glass to see them but they’re there.
How big are they?
German roach nymphs at different ages, all only a fraction of an inch in length.
These tiny terrorizing bugs don’t look like much more than little beetles when they’re babies. Unlike larger species like American cockroaches, German roaches and their babies are extremely tiny—less than half an inch long for the adults and mere millimeters (the size of small grains of rice) when first born. You’ve probably seen ants that are the same size.
The Nymphal Stage: Tiny Baby Roaches to Big Adult Problem
Young roaches are called nymphs from the time they’re born until they reach adulthood. As a baby cockroach matures during the nymphal stage, it sheds its exoskeleton over and over, each time growing a new, larger one. Baby German roaches molt 5–6 times over a period of 50–60 days.
Fun (or really, not so fun) fact: A baby cockroach molts by gulping air until its body expands enough to breaks open its old exoskeleton.
When they finally reach adulthood, they begin searching for a mate. German roaches simply don’t waste any time—they start reproducing just days after becoming adults.
Baby German cockroaches are a health hazard.
They don’t bite. They don’t sting. So why are they a problem?
German cockroaches carry bacteria from all of the unsavory places they venture into—pipes, gutters, walls, dumpsters and more. They can spread that bacteria on food and cooking surfaces, bringing diseases and allergens into your home.
While a single cockroach might not be a problem, the real threat comes from the fact that cockroaches are seldom loners.
Does the Presence of German Cockroach Babies Necessarily Mean an Infestation?
There is nothing cute about a baby cockroach. German roaches, in particular, are one of the most notorious household pests in the world. Seeing even one nymph is reason to be worried.
Why? These roaches breed continuously, producing offspring all year long.
One egg capsule from a single female German cockroach contains 30-40 eggs! When they’re ready to hatch, cockroach nymphs emerge as independent bugs, ready to fend for and feed themselves. A colony can jump from a few roaches to hundreds in a matter of months.
Baby roaches don’t venture far from their nest. Put it this way—if baby roaches are surviving well, it means the adults had an easy time finding food sources and a hiding place where they could lay their eggs.
Which brings us to…
What are German roaches (of any stage) attracted to?
German roaches are attracted to damp or humid areas. Exterminators have treated infestations in basements, attics, closets and bedrooms. They can thrive almost anywhere there’s enough moisture available.
Their favorite habitats, though, are kitchens and bathrooms. German roaches usually hide during the day in cupboards, crevices and behind appliances, only emerging at night to scavenge for food on floors and countertops. Seeing baby roaches in the kitchen? It’s a better than good bet they’re German.
Other Signs of a German cockroach infestation
Maybe you’re not sure if you’ve seen a baby German cockroach because it scurried under the refrigerator so quickly. These are a few other signs you might have an infestation:
Depending on the species (and German roaches are one of these) roach droppings look like tiny black specks gathered on the floor or in a cabinet. You might mistake it for coffee grounds if it weren’t for the musty odor. That odor sticks to surfaces and food they’ve touched, too.
German cockroach egg cases look like tiny, quarter-inch purses or capsules. They’re dark brown and show that the roaches are already laying eggs and hatching. Dead roaches might seem like a good sign but it could mean there are more than could fit in the nest.
German Cockroach Nymphs in Your Home: What It Means
Baby cockroaches are about as bad a sign as you can find. See, finding a big brown adult cockroach could mean you’ve just caught one lonely wanderer. Finding baby roaches signals that, at the very least, there are a few adults nearby and they’re ready to reproduce again.
Once you find baby German cockroaches, it’s time to act… fast. In about two months, those babies will be fully developed and ready to start having babies of their own. Don’t give them the chance.
Getting Rid of Baby German Cockroaches: No Holds Barred
The moment of truth. If you’ve read this far, chances are you’re sweating, stressed and dreading what we’re about to say. But we’re not here to scare you; we’ve got the facts and proven advice for getting rid of them.
Fact #1: You can get rid of baby German cockroaches for good. They’re resilient, clever and stubborn but they’re not unstoppable.
That’s the good news. The bad news…
Are they hard to get rid of?
The German cockroach is Public Enemy #1 for homeowners and pest controllers for a reason: they’re tough to exterminate. They grow quickly and, worse, they have dozens of babies each time they lay an egg case.
Fact #2: They thrive on just a little food, a lot of moisture and a good hiding place. Even the cleanest homes are at risk.
How long does it take to get rid of them?
Be prepared. Taking on baby cockroaches yourself is going to take awhile. You’ll need to search, clean, carefully place baits along with other treatments. and then monitor the effects.
You could also hire a professional exterminator who could eliminate a cockroach infestation in 2–3 weeks. That’s usually enough time for the pesticides to work their way through the colony and stop the adult roaches from reproducing.
Hiring a pro will be more expensive, but will also eliminate the dirty work!
How do you get rid of roaches fast?
We cover a variety of all-natural and DIY cockroach control methods that have the potential to eliminate infestations. However, the most effective, fastest solution to a baby German roach problem is to use pesticides.
Whether you choose baits or a spray, these products are designed to kill roaches individually, introduce insect growth regulator to render them infertile, and take down entire roach colonies at a time. When it’s time to get serious about pests, don’t take chances.
Baits are the best German cockroach killers.
Baits may be your best bets against German roaches, not because they’re as fast as kill-on-contact sprays, but because they spread their active ingredient from roach to roach, packing a much harder punch against medium- or large-sized infestations.
When you’re dealing with baby roaches, you have to treat the problem like it’s an already-established infestation. Using sticky cockroach traps can help you gauge the size of the colony and narrow your search for the nest.
Baits should be used in concentrated amounts and in specific areas where German roaches most likely walk. Use your knowledge of their habits—target areas where you think they’re going for food and water.
You can include natural cockroach killers in your extermination plan, too.
Fact #3: Both food-grade diatomaceous earth, boric acid and borax work as effective insecticides against adult and baby German cockroaches.
Keeping German Cockroaches Away
You’ve dealt with baby German cockroaches once; you don’t want to do it again. For everything from cleaning, sealing and repair tips to the essential oil smells that cockroaches hate, don’t miss our complete guide to keeping cockroaches away for good.
Conclusion
When we’re talking cockroaches, bad things tend to come in small packages. German cockroaches are the worst species to find in your home, and seeing even a single baby German cockroach is a likely sign of infestation.
But with this information and help from your local exterminator, you can get back to your cockroach-free life.
You’ve got this!
Written by Andrew Martin. Reviewed by Rae Osborn, PhD.
Disclaimer: This page is strictly for informational use. When using insecticides, keep in mind—the label is the law. Insecticides should be applied correctly and safely when needed, and according to the laws of your state or country.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Rae Osborn, PhD.
Science Editor
Dr. Rae Osborn holds Honors Bachelor of Science degrees in Zoology and Entomology, and a Master of Science in Entomology from the University of Natal in South Africa. She holds a PhD in Quantitative Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington, where her research was in Entomology. You can learn more about our contributors here.
Sources
Ross, Mary H. and Donald E. Mullins (1995) Understanding and Controlling German Cockroaches: Biology. Oxford University Press.
German Cockroach: Biology, Identification, Control (2013) NC State Extension. Retrieved from https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/german-cockroach/
What does a cockroach look like? Take a flat, skinny oval, add six spiny, hairy legs to its sides and two long antennae to the front and you’ve got a cockroach. Some are big, some have wings, but all of them take this basic shape.
When you find a bug in your house, it’s easy to start fearing the worst—a cockroach infestation.
Before you give way to roach panic, here are all the details on what cockroaches look like so you can compare the bug you saw and, hopefully, conclude that it wasn’t a cockroach.
Illustration of an American cockroach- the largest common cockroach pest in the U.S.
Relative to other bugs you might see around the house—ladybugs, ants, etc.—some cockroaches look like monsters. They seem too big not to have dangerous teeth, deadly venom or some other nightmarish defense mechanism.
The biggest species of cockroaches in the United States—American cockroaches—can grow to 3 inches long! Rest assured, though: they’re way too scared of you to bite.
What do Small Cockroaches Look Like?
Illustration of a German cockroach, one of the smallest cockroach species.
Roaches come in miniature sizes, too. Among the most prevalent household pests in the world, German cockroaches are only 1/2 inch in length—about the size of a penny.
Other types of cockroaches, like the Australian roach, come in somewhere in the middle. Regardless of its size, a cockroach’s shape is unmistakable.
The Cockroach Shape: Designed for Survival
Illustration of cockroach body parts: Head, legs, body underside, wings, exoskeleton, and cerci.
How can you tell your bug is a cockroach?
Six legs, two long antennae and, sometimes, wings: these are the usual characteristics of a cockroach. Like other insects, it has a head, thorax (“torso”) and abdomen. However, most of its body is covered by a hard exoskeleton, which makes it look a bit like a tiny tank-bug, slow and uncrushable.
A roach’s tiny head is barely visible at the front of its flat, oval-shaped body. At a glance, a cockroach on the wall just looks like a dark oval with two long antennae.
Make no mistake, though—cockroaches are fast runners and flexible enough to squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices. Their exoskeletons are shockingly squish-able, making them tricky to kill.
What Color are Roaches?
Your average cockroach is brown, black or somewhere in between. German roaches are light brown while smoky brown roaches are dark, reddish-brown in color, like a mahogany desk.
Oriental Roaches: On the Dark Side
Oriental roaches are the darkest species. They often appear black in color and shiny or glossy. Sometimes they’re mistaken for beetles but Oriental roaches have larger, skinnier bodies and longer legs.
Brown Banded: The Name Says It All
For some, the color is in the name: on the brown banded cockroach, two light-brown (or yellowish) bands run across its dark brown back, near its head.
Roach Twins: German and Asian
German cockroaches and Asian cockroaches are almost identical in color and size.
As if that weren’t enough, both also have a pair of dark, parallel lines running down their backs. An expert can tell that an Asian roach’s wings are slightly longer but you won’t notice that from your spot across the room.
The Trendy Green One
Then there’s the standout: the bright green Cuban cockroach. It’s not a common house pest but you’ll know one if you ever see one.
Do cockroaches have wings?
Oh no! Did the bug you saw take off and fly straight at you? Roaches do that, sometimes. That nightmare-inducing experience isn’t an attack, though; it’s just the cockroach escaping anywhere there’s an opening (like the doorway you just walked through).
Quite a few roach species have wings—in fact, nearly all of the species on the list above have wings. But not all of them fly.
Wings on a cockroach can even help you determine if it’s a male or female since only the males of most species have fully-grown wings.
What Does a Baby Cockroach Look Like?
Illustration of a German cockroach adult beside a German cockroach “baby,” or nymph.
Baby cockroaches might look a bit different from their adult parents. It might be lighter or darker in color and have a different pattern than it will have as an adult. Baby roaches don’t yet have wings, either.
As they grow, cockroaches molt their old exoskeletons and grow new ones. Right after they’ve molted, they might appear pale or white.
It’s very rare to find baby roaches unless they’re almost fully grown.
Where Did You Find the Roach?
It was in the bathroom.
Cockroaches like to hang out in warm, moist areas. If you saw a big, brown or black bug in the bathtub or sink, chances are it was a roach.
I saw it on the wall.
If you had to try to squish your bug with the end of a broom handle because it was crawling way up near the ceiling, you were probably dealing with a brown banded roach. They like to stick their egg cases in high-up places, like on walls and in the ceiling. If your bug were a moth, it would have bigger wings and no hard armor.
I saw it in my dog’s food bowl.
That’s not surprising for a cockroach. Even a few morsels of pet food are enough to attract these pests. Even small roaches are bigger than ants. The other bug that might’ve crossed your mind, the flea, doesn’t eat pet food. It would be on your pet.
It was flying around the lights.
Nothing’s worse on a clear summer night than being annoyed by bugs buzzing around the lights and lanterns. It’s not just mosquitoes and gnats—some flying cockroaches are attracted to lights, too! Smoky brown roaches, for one, will even fly through an open window at your living room lights.
Some Insects that Look Like Cockroaches
Illustration of 5 bugs frequently mistaken for roaches: From left to right- Beetle, Water Bug, Bed Bug, Termite, and Cricket
A few bugs look a lot like cockroaches at a glance:
Maybe you only got a glance and you didn’t notice its color or if it had wings. Luckily, other signs can tell you if you’re dealing with a cockroach.
You’ll smell a roach.
Is there a distinct smell where the bug was walking or feeding? Roaches give off a strong, musty odor. You might notice it on countertops or on any food they’ve touched.
Were there droppings nearby?
Roach droppings look like tiny coffee grounds or spilled black pepper, clustered behind appliances or in cupboards. Droppings can help you identify a roach and also guess how many there are. (For comparison, rodent droppings are bigger, like grains of rice, and cylindrical.)
Conclusion
What does a roach look like? Like trouble, generally. And if your bug matched any of the characteristics we’ve covered, there’s a good chance it was a cockroach. Now it’s time to determine if one roach is actually a sign of more, implement a pest control plan if necessary, and get rid of cockroaches for good.
Don’t let these critters ruin your day! We have the answers to all of your cockroach questions:
Written by Andrew Martin, Reviewed by Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Science Editor
Helene is a Namibian born South African citizen with a great love for nature and its intricacies. She completed a PhD in molecular phylogenetics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2011, and has since worked as a postdoctoral researcher in this field at the University as well as the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.
She has published several peer reviewed scientific articles with the use of genetic, taxonomic and phylogenetic tools, specializing in Entomology, taxonomy, zoonoses, epidemiology and bacterial & viral genetics.
These days, she is a stay-at-home-mother of two lovely boys, with whom she loves to explore nature from a different point of view. She also works as a freelance writer, editor and researcher for all things science.
Cockroaches are widely known as small, ugly critters. But these ancient survivalists have adapted in amazing ways over hundreds of millions of years. Let’s take a look at some of the most important cockroach facts, and how they matter to you.
Cockroaches are insects in the Blattodea order. They’re related to termites and once, deep in the distant past, the two insects shared a common ancestor. Scientists have discovered cockroach fossils that date back over 320 million years to the Triassic period and earlier. Talk about walking with dinosaurs.
There are well over 4,000 species of cockroaches living around the world. Most of them don’t live near or interact with humans but the few that do have become serious household and commercial pests.
Why are they called “cockroaches”?
“Cockroach” is actually an English mispronunciation of their Spanish name, cucaracha, that stuck. Have you heard the catchy tune “La Cucaracha?” It’s a Spanish folk song that’s been sung for centuries—and now you know what it’s really about.
The “Blatta” in Blattodea is Latin for “an insect that shuns the light.” Roaches belong to this family because they spend most of their time hiding in the dark.
Facts About Cockroach Biology
Life Cycle: How Cockroaches Reproduce
Cockroaches are egg-laying insects but they don’t lay their eggs like birds in a nest.
Female roaches lay eggs inside an egg case, called an ootheca. American cockroaches typically lay about a dozen eggs in an egg case while German cockroaches lay as many as 50 eggs in each. That’s a lot of baby cockroaches—up to 400 from a single female in her lifetime!
Male roaches of some species stick around to tend to the young after they hatch. Not only do the males scavenge food but they go as far as eating bird feces to take in vital nitrogen and bring it back to their offspring.
Why are baby cockroaches white?
Cockroach nymphs molt repeatedly as they mature. Each time, they shed their old exoskeleton and grow a new one. But during the short time in between, they appear white because they’re lacking that hard outer covering that darkens as it hardens with time.
What’s a cockroach’s lifespan?
Most cockroaches live for less than a year. The adult lifespan of a cockroach varies between species. An adult German roach only lives 20 to 30 weeks. However, an adult American cockroach can live for well over a year.
How do cockroaches breathe?
Cockroaches breathe very differently from humans. Instead of using their head to breathe, they breathe through tiny pores in their body segments called spiracles. A cockroach’s exoskeleton features a number of these holes that let them take in air and absorb oxygen directly into their organs.
This respiratory system gives them an amazing superpower— a cockroach can live a week without its head! (So when battling cockroaches, think the opposite of zombies—_don’t_ aim for the head!)
They also have an open circulatory system, which lets their blood travel through a system of connected spaces instead of on a closed track. A headless cockroach can still breathe and circulate blood; its undoing is actually that it can no longer drink water (or eat) without its head – thus dying from dehydration .
By Land or by Air: How Fast Are Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are crazy fast runners. Their powerful rear legs can propel them up to 1.5 meters (50 body-lengths) per second. Translated into human sizes and distances, that’s like running 200 miles per hour! (The Oriental cockroach is an exception—it’s noticeably slower than other species.)
For example, American cockroaches can fly but usually don’t. On the other hand, Asian cockroaches are relatively strong fliers. The unique green Cuban cockroach is probably the best flier of them all. It’s nicknamed the “banana cockroach” because of its tendency to fly around among the branches of banana trees.
Are cockroaches attracted to lights?
Some cockroaches avoid lights, hiding in dark places all day and scavenging at night. Others, however, are strongly attracted to lights. Flying cockroaches—like the smoky brown cockroach—are especially drawn to lights and, often, they fly through open windows toward TV screens and ceiling lights.
Can cockroaches swim?
A cockroach’s stick-like legs and delicate wings aren’t the ideal paddles for swimming through water. That doesn’t mean getting rid of one is as simple as flushing it down the drain, though.
A cockroach can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes! There’s a good chance it’ll come out fine at the other end and won’t mind a bit that it’s wound up in a sewer. After all, sewage is among the many things that make up a roach’s diet.
Why is it so difficult to crush a cockroach?
It turns out, a cockroach’s hard exoskeleton is also quite flexible or leathery. You can see the joints in it if you dare to look closely. Scientists studying these bugs used a machine to squish them with 900 times their body weight. They survived. More than that: they still ran at full speed, as if nothing had happened.
Where Cockroaches Live: Inside, Outside and Around the World
Most cockroaches live outdoors. They crawl among the fallen leaves on forest floors or build colonies inside tree hollows. They burrow, climb and fly to find habitats and, sometimes, that search leads them into buildings.
Are cockroaches really everywhere?
Cockroaches have a reputation for being expert survivalists but there’s one place on Earth they haven’t been able to colonize: Antarctica. Though it’s possible a few roaches have stowed away on ships and sailed the seas to that southernmost continent, they haven’t yet been able to adapt to its harsh, freezing conditions. But don’t ever count a cockroach out.
Do cockroaches build nests?
A cockroach “nest” isn’t like a bird’s nest. It’s typically just a hole, box or other dark, out-of-reach place where the roaches hide and reproduce. It will probably contain molted exoskeletons, droppings and a few dead roaches.
Some cockroaches live with ants.
Our homes aren’t the only ones cockroaches like to invade. There are at least 2 species of wood cockroaches that have been seen living with ants!
Researchers have found the western wood cockroach and the Boll’s wood cockroach living in anthills among the ants. It’s the nymphs of both species that seem to hide in the anthills during the day and leave to find food at night.
That’s despite the fact that cockroaches occasionally eat ants and other insects (even other dead roaches)!
The Cockroach Diet: Is There Anything They Won’t Eat?
Short answer: no. If it’s edible, a cockroach will probably eat it. Anything we eat—from meat and vegetables to sugar and grease—is fair game for a hungry roach.
Cockroaches are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They’re also detritivores—organisms that eat decaying organic material. Rotten fruit, dead leaves and even animal waste are all on the menu for cockroaches.
It sounds gross, but a cockroach’s unpleasant eating habits make it an important part of its ecosystem. Roaches and other detritivores break down the dead plant and animal material and help return nutrients to the soil.
Can a cockroach survive without water?
Cockroaches can live a month without food. However, they can’t live a long time without water. Cockroaches are sensitive to dehydration and changes in humidity. That’s why they’re frequently spotted in bathtubs and sinks.
Cockroaches can go for a month without eating but they won’t survive longer than a week without water (depending on what they are feeding on, they may get some of their water from their food).
Cockroaches and Us: Friendly or Dangerous?
Although only a few cockroach species live among humans, those few can become major problems. The German cockroach is one of the most widespread household pests in the world, taking over city apartment buildings with ease. Once inside, roaches are destructive and potentially dangerous due to their ability to spread disease and filth.
Cockroaches can spread disease.
One of the more disturbing cockroach facts has to do with disease.
Because like rats and certain other kinds of pests, they can transmit diseases to people. Roaches crawl through sewers, drain pipes, gutters and piles of decaying material as they scavenge for food. If they make it into your house, they’ll spread the bacteria they’ve picked up on countertops, cooking surfaces and any food you’ve left out.
One of the adaptations that makes a roach so resilient is its body’s natural ability to produce antibiotics. That saves them from the harmful bacteria they could transfer to us.
Do cockroaches cause allergies?
The negative effects of roaches go beyond ruining food. Cockroach infestations can trigger people’s allergies. The main contributors to allergic reactions are the molted exoskeletons and roach droppings that they leave behind. People with asthma are especially sensitive to cockroach allergens.
Myths and Other Facts about Roaches
Can cockroaches survive a nuclear explosion?
Probably not. But cockroaches can survive intense levels of radiation.
“Rems” is the unit of measurement scientists use to describe radiation damage to the human body. 800 rems are fatal to humans. Meanwhile, cockroaches can withstand up to 100,000 rems. The thing is, a nuclear explosion creates a lot of heat too. Cockroaches are strong creatures but they can’t survive a temperature of 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do cockroaches like beer?
Cockroaches do like alcoholic beverages, especially beer! In a 2006 study, beer placed in a jar with bread attracted more cockroaches than any other bait. Roaches are drawn to beer by the sugar it contains, not for its alcohol content.
Do cockroaches crawl into people’s ears?
It’s extremely rare but… unfortunately… yes, they can. Your ears happen to be dark, humid and tiny—the 3 ingredients roaches look for in a habitat. Cockroaches may also see earwax as a food source. Again, cockroaches almost always stay away from people, so it’s probably best to forget about this fact as soon as possible.
Do cockroaches smell bad?
You already know about cockroaches’ poor hygiene. The places they venture don’t leave them smelling fresh. Cockroaches also produce chemicals that have a foul odor. When roaches touch food, they leave that smell behind—a good thing, since you definitely don’t want to eat a cockroach’s leftovers!
Do cockroaches bite?
Cockroaches can bite but they almost never do. There’s simply no reason for them to bite a person; they don’t feed on blood like mosquitoes and they’re not predators. On the fight or flight spectrum, cockroaches are very much flight when they come face to face with a towering human.
Conclusion
Despite all of their amazing adaptations, it’s important to get rid of cockroaches quickly if they’ve come into your house.
Explore our in-depth guides to all things cockroaches and discover even more amazing cockroach facts while you learn how to keep your house cockroach-free.
Written by Andrew Martin, Reviewed by Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Science Editor
Helene is a Namibian born South African citizen with a great love for nature and its intricacies. She completed a PhD in molecular phylogenetics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2011, and has since worked as a postdoctoral researcher in this field at the University as well as the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.
She has published several peer reviewed scientific articles with the use of genetic, taxonomic and phylogenetic tools, specializing in Entomology, taxonomy, zoonoses, epidemiology and bacterial & viral genetics.
These days, she is a stay-at-home-mother of two lovely boys, with whom she loves to explore nature from a different point of view. She also works as a freelance writer, editor and researcher for all things science.
Cockroach (2020) Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/cockroach-insect
Wilson, Tracy V. Cockroach Anatomy and Physiology. HowStuffWorks Animals. Retrieved from https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/cockroach1.htm
Jayaram, Kaushik and Robert J. Full (2015) Cockroaches traverse crevices, crawl rapidly in confined spaces, and inspire a soft, legged robot. PNAS. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/02/04/1514591113.full.pdf
Wang, Changlu and Gary W. Bennett (2006) Comparison of Cockroach Traps and Attractants for Monitoring German Cockroaches. Environmental Entomology. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ee/article/35/3/765/382141
Dell’amore, Christine (2010) Cockroach Brains May Hold New Antibiotics. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/9/100909-cockroach-brains-mrsa-ecoli-antibiotics-science-health/
Father’s Day Pictures: All-Star Animal Dads (2012) National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/6/120615-fathers-day-best-dads-animals-pictures-science/
Disease Vectors and Pests (2009) CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha04.htm6. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/6/120615-fathers-day-best-dads-animals-pictures-science/
Cockroach Facts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
You’ve probably heard warnings about how quickly cockroaches can reproduce and spread through a house. When cockroaches take up residence in a home, it’s because they’ve found conditions they like. A lot.
But do cockroaches really nest in homes? And what does a cockroach nest even look like?
In this short guide, we’ll teach you:
How cockroaches hide
How to find a roach nest, and
How to get rid of a cockroach nest – possibly forever.
Need Product Recommendations?
A handful of easy-to-use products can solve most cockroach problems.
Illustration of a roach colony. Living roaches, nymphs and egg cases alongside dead roaches, shell casings and debris.
A roach nest isn’t a tightly wound basket of twigs and grass like you might expect from a bird. And it’s not the sort of carefully gathered nest of materials that you might expect from a mouse or rat.
Cockroaches “nest” wherever they find a hiding place near food and water. A better word is colony: cockroaches live in colonies and their “nest” is simply the colony’s hotspot, where the roaches lay their eggs and hide from daylight (and people).
Basically, a cockroach “nest” looks nothing like a nest.
It’s more like the roaches’ messy bedroom, where everything’s lying around in
the same general area.
Finding a cockroach nest means finding several (or several dozen) cockroaches and, probably, a few dead ones.
You’ll also see plenty of roach droppings and old egg cases lying around. Cockroach droppings are tiny and look like coffee grounds or black pepper. Droppings start to collect in areas with high activity. You might even find it inside kitchen appliances.
Egg cases meanwhile, are usually brown and less than 1/4 inch long. Every egg case you can see might equal 40 or more baby cockroaches.
A cockroach “nest” also contains old skins that the baby cockroaches have molted. These young
roaches, called nymphs, shed their exoskeletons 6 times or more before they’re
fully grown. There might be dozens or hundreds of molted exoskeletons lying
around, depending on the size of the infestation.
When a large number of roaches are present, you might even
see some of the nymphs. And you might just mistake them for completely
different insects. Nymphs sometimes appear white right after they’ve molted,
while their new exoskeletons are still developing.
If the roach population continues to grow, you might see
more and more adults out in the open as they’re pushed out or forced to cover
more ground looking for food. They’ll also give off a strong, musty odor. Not
only that, but everything they touch—including food items—will start to smell
oily and stale, too. It’s a pungent odor that you can’t miss, but if you hadn’t
seen a roach, you might’ve mistaken it for something else.
Where Do Roaches Live?
Most cockroaches love humid places. Depending on the type of cockroach, some like it hot and some stick to cooler, damp places. But one thing just about all of them have in common is a need for moisture.
For that reason, cockroaches almost always live near sources of food and water. Wherever they have easy access to snacks and drinks, they’ll find a hiding place nearby.
And hiding isn’t just something that cockroaches do. It’s one of their most effective adaptations, a skill they’re good at and spend most of their lives doing!
Even the largest roaches (like the Oriental cockroach, or the even bigger American cockroach) are small enough to squeeze into cracks and crevices you probably hadn’t noticed before. They’ll live beneath carpets and floor mats, too. Small species can even squeeze beneath loose wallpaper and use that tiny space as their hiding place.
It’s hard to find cockroaches because they make it hard; they like tight, hemmed-in places where they won’t be seen and won’t be disturbed. That’s why they often build colonies in crawl spaces and basements. It’s also why discovering even one cockroach, living or dead, is a warning sign you should heed. Because there could be many, many more only barely out of sight.
Hint: If you’ve come here because you’ve already found a cockroach in your home, you can identify and learn about the worst 8 Types of Roaches here.
How to Find a Roach Nest
Roaches nest in out-of-the-way spaces near sources of water and food.
Brace yourself for this one, because finding roaches means thinking like them too. You’ll need to get down on your hands and knees and poke around places that are hard to reach, and sometimes aren’t pleasant. You’ll probably get a little dirty, so put on some old work clothes and possibly a pair of gloves – because ready? You’re going in.
Thinking like a cockroach means identifying sources of food and water, so you’re going to want to begin in the kitchen and bathrooms where one or both are plentiful.
You’ll want to be thorough and check all of your cabinets, your pantry and any shelving or storage containers. You’ll want to look behind and under things, as well as inside of things. It helps to use a handheld mirror and a flashlight to check under appliances and behind the refrigerator.
Hint: If the thought of opening a cabinet door to suddenly see an active roach nest is giving you anxiety, remember: they won’t hurt you. The worst they’ll do is scurry away as fast as possible. You can do this.
Beyond the kitchen and bathrooms, the most common nest areas are dark, cluttered and damp places. If you found a roach in the attic or basement, you’ll have to check all of the boxes and bins stored there – they could be in all or just one of them- to make sure they haven’t “nested” inside.
It’s a lot of work but it’s better to be safe than sorry
when you’re dealing with pests! Plus, it’ll only get more difficult to control
the problem if it continues to grow.
How to Get Rid of a Cockroach Nest
If you’ve found a roach nest in your home, all hope is not lost! With a combination of baits, pesticides and wits, you can beat a cockroach infestation.
Suggested Products
To Find Cockroach Hiding Spots and Kill Them Quickly When You Have Just a Few
Recommended for all cockroaches
Exterminator’s Choice Sticky Glue Traps
Used to measure and monitor a cockroach infestation and provide some supplemental control.
P.I. is a pyrethrin-based spray insecticide that kills roaches fast. Best when used as a supplement to other treatments, it’s not inexpensive, but far more effective than off-the-shelf sprays.
To Kill Cockroaches Inside Your Home When You Have a Serious Problem
Recommended for German cockroaches and Brown banded cockroaches, as well as American cockroaches (Palmetto bugs, Water bugs, Tree roaches, Sewer roaches), and Oriental cockroaches when they enter in large numbers.
Rockwell Labs CimeXa Dust Insecticide
CimeXa is an effective indoor crack and crevice treatment. For best results, use alongside Advion Gel Bait and Gentrol IGR.
Insecticidal dusts like CimeXa work best when applied with a duster tool. This inexpensive diatomaceous earth duster works fine with CimeXa, Delta Dust, and other recommended dusts.
Advion first poisons the roaches that eat it, then others in a secondary kill. For the most effective indoor treatment, combine with CimeXa insecticidal dust and Gentrol IGR.
Gentrol is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that interferes with roach reproduction. It’s most effective used alongside Advion Gel Bait and CimeXa insecticidal dust.
To Kill Cockroaches Outdoors Before They Have a Chance to Get Inside
Recommended for American cockroaches (Palmetto bugs, Water bugs, Tree roaches, Sewer roaches), Oriental cockroaches, and Smokybrown cockroaches.
Bayer Polyzone Suspend Insecticide
When used on exterior foundations, entries, and walls, Suspend insecticidal liquid stops outdoor roaches before they get in. It requires a separate sprayer (see below), and works best alongside a granular outdoor bait like Intice and an outdoor crack and crevice treatment like Delta Dust.
InTice is a granular bait that kills roaches outdoors and in spaces like your garage or attic. Used alongside a spray treatment like Bayer Suspend and a crack and crevice treatment like Delta Dust, it can protect the entire perimeter of your home.
Waterproof and long-lasting, Delta Dust is a crack and crevice treatment effective in high-moisture areas such as attics, exterior walls, and plumbing lines. Delta Dust is regulated and unavailable in some areas.
Safe, inexpensive, and easy to use, roach gel bait is a good first start. Use tiny dabs of bait around the most likely entry points roaches are using, whether they’re holes in the wall or gaps between the oven and the cabinets.
Baits are effective and easy to use because roaches do most of the job themselves, first eating the poison, then carrying it back to their “nest,” where others in the colony also get to it.
Baits will help you begin to kill roaches, but for long-term roach control, look to a combination of products, including insecticidal dust and IGR.
Insecticidal dust works alongside bait by killing roaches in a different way, damaging their bodies as they crawl through it, eventually causing them to dehydrate (to death).
Boric acid and food-grade diatomaceous earth are popular dusts that work well, but an even better product is CimeXa, which is both faster and safer. Dust in conjunction with gel bait is a seriously effective way to cut back roach populations.
The third part of the trio is insect growth regulator (IGR), which renders newborn roaches infertile. IGR products like Gentrol are easy to use, and complete a very potent roach control plan.
Finally, you or a pest control professional (who ought to be consulted in the event of an overwhelming roach infestation) can use outdoor baits, dust, and insecticidal sprays if necessary to treat the perimeter of your home.
The best long-term plan is a good defense. That means cleaning
your home regularly and keeping things organized. You’ll also want to keep an
eye on the areas just outside of your house—including the garage, garden, patio
and yard—for debris and clutter that can attract cockroaches and other pests.
It’s scary to think about a cockroach colony living in your home, sneaking out at night and crawling around the kitchen. But it’s a problem you can handle! Armed with the information in this article, you’re ready to find the cockroach nest and get rid of it forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do roaches nest?
When cockroaches take hold in a house, their go-to habitats are in kitchens and bathrooms. Roaches spend most of their time hiding, so they’ll look for dark, out-of-reach places to build their colonies. Large appliances can hide cockroach colonies. These tiny insects can hide behind appliances, live in furniture and squeeze into cabinets and crevices.
What are the signs of a roach nest?
Usually the first sign there are cockroaches present is… seeing a cockroach! Otherwise, you might not even think about a roach nest being in your home. Other signs include dead roaches or old, molted exoskeletons, roach droppings (which looks like black pepper) and the musty odor roaches tend to produce. Keep a close eye on any signs you see to find out the size and location of any infestation you could be dealing with.
How many roaches nest at one time?
A cockroach colony can contain anywhere from a few roaches to a few hundred. If you find any kind of established “nest” in your home (that means multiple roaches, droppings and evidence of molting) you should treat it as a serious infestation. Cockroaches reproduce quickly and just a few females can produce hundreds of offspring in a year.
Where do German roaches nest?
German cockroaches don’t build nests, but these extremely common pests usually live very close to their sources of food. They’re widespread pests that gather in warm, humid places. German roach colonies hide around appliances like stoves and dishwashers, in cabinets and anywhere else that’s dark and hidden from humans.
Written by Andrew Martin, Reviewed by Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Disclaimer: This page is strictly for informational use. When using insecticides, keep in mind—the label is the law. Insecticides should be applied correctly and safely when needed, and according to the laws of your state or country.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Helene Steenkamp, PhD.
Science Editor
Helene is a Namibian born South African citizen with a great love for nature and its intricacies. She completed a PhD in molecular phylogenetics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2011, and has since worked as a postdoctoral researcher in this field at the University as well as the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.
She has published several peer reviewed scientific articles with the use of genetic, taxonomic and phylogenetic tools, specializing in Entomology, taxonomy, zoonoses, epidemiology and bacterial & viral genetics.
These days, she is a stay-at-home-mother of two lovely boys, with whom she loves to explore nature from a different point of view. She also works as a freelance writer, editor and researcher for all things science.
Evans, Judith (2018) How to Kill Cockroaches Behind Appliances. SFGate Home Guides. Retrieved from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kill-cockroaches-behind-appliances–32052.html
Briseno, Terri. 10 Cockroach Hiding Spaces. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved from https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/insect-control/10-cockroach-hiding-spots.htm
There’s a new cockroach in town, and it’s muscling in on other roach’s turf. Since arriving in the late 1970’s, the Turkestan cockroach has invaded large swaths of the United States and is looking for new territory — which might include your home.
Here are the facts about this emerging pest — where it lives, what it does, and how to prevent it from getting into your house.
Turkestan Roach ID
Roaches, curiously, have lots of nicknames, and the most popular ones for the Turkestan cockroach —the “rusty red cockroach” and the “red runner cockroach”—describe the female somewhat better than the male. While the females are every bit a rusty red color, males are more of a muted orange that’s not so far from tan.
The males are also more slender than the females, with much longer, yellow-tinted wings used for short flights and gliding. Females on the other hand, have short stubby wings with white or cream-colored markings around the edges. The females can’t fly, so if you see a red runner roach fly into your house, you can be doubly sure it’s male.
Both males and females grow to an inch long or so, making them similar in size to the Oriental cockroach (which is part of this roach’s story – see below), and the males are typically larger than the females.
Habitat
Like Oriental and American cockroaches, Turkestan roaches are primarily outdoor insects. They thrive in warm, relatively dry climates and don’t typically live in houses. Most of the time, they’ll stay outside, building colonies in sheltered areas in and around your yard.
There, Turkestans are particularly notorious for infesting the voids in outdoor electrical boxes and water meter boxes, and for burrowing into the cracks and crevices of concrete and brick. You might also discover them living in your garden, darting across your compost pile, or hiding in the potted plants atop your deck.
Though they’re very successful outside, there are three reasons they might decide to enter the relatively foreign environment of your home: food, moisture, and light.
Like the male wood roaches that swarm Midwest and Eastern homes in the spring and summer, the Turkestan male roach has an attraction to lights and will happily glide through an open window in search of the light source inside.
Males and females may also on occasion enter looking for food and moisture when conditions become difficult outside.
Should they take a liking to your home or yard, be warned: You’re dealing with a roach that has a trick up its sleeve—having to do with reproduction.
Turkestan Cockroach Life Cycle
Speed of reproduction is key to the Turkestan’s success.
The female Turkestan cockroach hatches an average of 14 nymphs at a time and has a life span of a year and a half or more. She reaches breeding age quickly and is capable of producing as many as 350 baby cockroaches over her lifetime — an extraordinary number for a cockroach species of its size.
Those numbers aren’t without natural world consequences. Turkestan roaches multiply so quickly that they’re forcing out another cockroach species (the Oriental cockroach) from regions they’ve inhabited for decades.
Where Did Turkestan Cockroaches Come From?
Range of the Turkestan cockroach in the United States (in orange). Data retrieved from BugGuide
The Turkestan cockroach is native to Central Asia, and prevalent across the Middle East and northern Africa. In recent decades, they’ve spread across the southwestern U.S. and have been found in southern states as well, including Florida, Arkansas and Georgia.
Like many other roaches, the Turkestan likely made its way to the U.S. aboard ships. First spotted at an army depot in Lanthrope, California in 1978, they’ve since established themselves as an invasive species (partly with human help) that’s changing the balance of ecosystems.
“This habitat’s not big enough for the two
of us”
The Turkestan’s spread brought a surprising side effect.
Able to breed nearly twice as fast the Oriental roach which dominated many regions, they began to push them out of urban areas in the Southwest. At first, scientists didn’t notice the change because the two species (at least the females) look somewhat similar. Now, they’re quickly taking over,with long-term effects yet to be known.
Behavior and Diet of Turkestan Roaches
The Turkestan cockroach, like other roaches, is a night-owl. It scavenges after the sun sets, feeding on a huge variety of food (and not-quite-food) items—from crumbs, leftovers and garbage to compost, leaf litter and decomposing insects.
When it chooses to come inside, it will search for food that’s similar to its outdoor diet, but will happily munch on most anything that ever came from a plant or animal — paper, cardboard boxes, fingernails, leather, and well.. lots more.
Is the Turkestan Cockroach Dangerous to
People?
As a cockroach that’s not known as an aggressive indoor pest, the Turkestan doesn’t represent the same level of problem as an indoor species like the German cockroach. But when they do find their way inside, they can bring a variety of health hazards with them.
Like other roaches, they eat and crawl through all sorts of things, including some of the most bacteria-laden matter known to man. Indoors they’ll spread whatever’s on or inside their bodies across countertops, tables, unsealed food, or anything else they touch, posing a potential risk for you and your family.
Have plants? Their bodies also carry the Herpomyces fungi which can cause diseases in plants.
How to Get Rid of Turkestan Cockroach Infestations
Despite their willingness to enter structures from time to time, Turkestan infestations mainly occur outside. When necessary however, you can fend them off in both places.
Cockroach baits are effective both indoors and outside your home. And in severe infestations, a professional can administer a perimeter treatment around your yard or your home’s foundation.
If you’re hoping to get rid of Turkestan cockroaches without chemicals, there are natural solutions that are effective too, including diatomaceous earth (which can be very effective), boric acid and even (potentially), the use of certain essential oils.
Tips for Preventing Turkestan Cockroaches
While you can almost always kill Turkestan roaches that have become a problem, the best approach is to prevent problems before they happen.
Preventing cockroaches begins by learning what attracts them, and what your home’s weaknesses are, then using that knowledge to deprive them of what they need.
Some important tips
for preventing Turkestan cockroaches:
Clean and clean up regularly. Cockroaches like to eat, so sweep, vacuum, and wipe crumbs off floors and counters. Wash dishes and seal leftovers in airtight containers.
Seal cracks and crevices. Carefully inspect window screens for rips, and inspect exterior walls for tiny holes that a roach could could crawl through. Then inspect interior walls for gaps and voids around pipes or wiring. Turkestans can squeeze through these openings, even ones you may think are too narrow, tight, or small.
Declutter inside and outside. Organize boxes in storage, rake leaves and store firewood away from your house. If you can, keep your garbage away from the walls until it’s picked up, too.
Crank the heat down from time to time. Turkestan roaches hate the cold, so if you find them wandering in and have the opportunity, try turning the heat down to deter or “dis-invite” them.
Relative to other roaches, which have been in the U.S. for hundreds of years, the Turkestan cockroach is still new to the neighborhood. Yet they’re spreading quickly, possibly near your home.
Don’t let them invade what’s yours. With just a little knowledge, you’ll be able to say goodbye to Turkestan roaches for good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Turkestan cockroaches fly?
Only adult male Turkestan roaches can fly. They have long, yellowish wings that allow them to fly short distances. You’ll want to make sure you have screens in your windows before you leave them open.
Do Turkestan cockroaches live in houses?
Turkestan roaches usually live outside but they’ve been found in homes across the southern U.S. and have been reported in northern states. Turkestan roaches come into houses when they need food or when the weather’s harsh.
Do Turkestan cockroaches bite?
Like most cockroaches, the Turkestan cockroach can bite but almost never bites humans. We’re too scary.
What kills Turkestan roaches ?
Many types of pesticides and other pest control products kill the insects, but repeated applications may cause resistance. You can use baits to kill them after they’ve taken the chemical back to their colony. Some sprays kill on contact while others act as barriers.
Do I need to call a professional pest control service?
If you’ve seen one or two of them, you can try to control them yourself with baits or non-toxic insect dusts coupled with the prevention techniques mentioned above. If you don’t want to take any risks, it’s a good idea to call an exterminator to get rid of them.
Written by Andrew Martin. Reviewed by Rae Osborn, PhD.
Disclaimer: This page is strictly for informational use. When using insecticides, keep in mind—the label is the law. Insecticides should be applied correctly and safely when needed, and according to the laws of your state or country.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Rae Osborn, PhD.
Science Editor
Dr. Rae Osborn holds Honors Bachelor of Science degrees in Zoology and Entomology, and a Master of Science in Entomology from the University of Natal in South Africa. She holds a PhD in Quantitative Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington, where her research was in Entomology. You can learn more about our contributors here.
Sources
Kim, Tina and Michael K. Rust (2013) Life History and Biology of the Invasive Turkestan Cockroach. Journal of Economic Entomology. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1603/EC13052
The Invasive Turkestan Cockroach is Displacing the Oriental Cockroach in the Southwestern U.S. (2013) Entomology Today. Retrieved from https://entomologytoday.org/2013/12/09/the-invasive-turkestan-cockroach-is-displacing-the-oriental-cockroach-in-the-southwestern-u-s/
Anderson, Marcia (2016) A Changing Population – Turkestan Cockroach Overtakes the American Southwest… and Possibly NYC. The EPA Blog. Retrieved from https://blog.epa.gov/2016/10/25/a-changing-population-turkestan-cockroach-overtakes-the-american-southwest-and-possibly-nyc/
CockroachFacts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. See our additional disclosure here.
Are you serious about getting rid of cockroaches but don’t
want to resort to pesticides and other dangerous chemicals? The internet is
full of DIY techniques using plants, spices, herbs and more that are said to repel roaches or force them to
leave.
Do any of them really work? Yes! We’ve got the rundown on all-natural cockroach repellent – which work, and which don’t.
Despite cockroaches’ reputation for living almost anywhere and eating almost anything, there are a few things that they just can’t stand. Most species are picky about the temperature, some are picky about the humidity, and a few really hate lights.
But you don’t want to freeze yourself in your own house and
run fans in every room just to make the cockroaches uncomfortable. And be
careful about using lights—some roaches will run away but others
love
them.
Luckily, for those looking for an all-natural roach repellent, there are more than a few out there, and almost all of them involve one thing: smell.
What Smells Repel
Cockroaches?
Several strong, specific scents have been shown to deter
roaches and other insects. Let’s go through some of the most common ideas for
using herbs, spices, plants and essential oils to repel cockroaches and see if
these home remedies are worth trying.
How to Use Essential Oils as Natural Roach Repellent
Essential oils give off potent, often pleasant, scents that many people diffuse to relax or rejuvenate themselves. Some of these strong fragrances seem to do the trick against cockroaches, too.
Tea Tree Oil
Many homeowners report that roaches don’t like tea tree oil. You can combine 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water with a few drops of tea tree oil and apply the mixture with a spray bottle to deter cockroaches from specific areas.
Buy: MAJESTIC PURE Tea Tree Oil – Pure and Natural Therapeutic Grade Tea Tree Essential Oil – Melaleuca Alternifolia – 4 fl oz
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil has a strong scent that seems to have some success in repelling roaches. You can dilute it with water and spray areas you think cockroaches might have nested.
Lavender oil is one of the most relaxing, stress-reducing essential oils available. But while it’s calming and comforting us, it’s driving insects away! Based on reports from people who have tried it, there’s a good chance that spraying lavender oil or pouring it into small dishes tells cockroaches and other pests to turn around and leave.
Cypress Oil & Peppermint Oil
According to some, you can keep cockroaches away with peppermint oil and cypress oil. As with most of these essential oils, their effectiveness is based mostly on anecdotal evidence, not scientific research. Nonetheless, some people claim success with water-diluted peppermint or cypress oil sprays – and there is some scientific evidence to back that up.
At the very least, there are worse scents than cypress and peppermint to fill your home with while you test these methods. Each of these essential oils gives off a fresh, invigorating odor that will help ease your mind, even if it doesn’t turn out to be completely successful against your roach problem.
Mint plants give off a strong odor that’ll quickly freshen up any room. They’re also one of the best natural cockroach repellent plants you can grow.
Mint essential oil is a potent natural insect repellent and a good first choice when trying DIY solutions. Plus, mint plants are fun to grow and great for cooking and cocktails! Research has found that it’s also toxic to at least two species of roaches (the American cockroach and the German cockroach), which makes it all the more powerful as part of your cockroach elimination plan.
Another common belief is that bay leaves’ strong smell can keep roaches at bay. Some fresh bay leaves probably aren’t going to stop a large infestation, but their scent could be enough to deter a few roaches. They also contain eucalyptol, an organic compound that repels bugs. (Rosemary and tea tree leaves contain it, too.)
You can place fresh bay leaves in small bowls near the places you think the cockroaches are hiding, or where you don’t want them going, like your cupboards, cabinets and pantry.
Buy: Yamees Bay Leaves – Bay Leaves Bulk – Bay Leaves Whole – Laurel Leaves – Bulk Spices – 3 Ounce Bag
Cinnamon
What about that favorite spice on crème brûlée, French
toast, coffee and more—cinnamon? There’s no doubt it’s one strong scent, but
unfortunately its odor, alone, isn’t as effective as bay leaves or mint oil.
However, combining fresh cinnamon sticks with other fragrant herbs and spices
might keep some insects away.
Pandan Leaves
Pandan leaves are popular ingredients in Southeast Asian cooking but they’re not much of a cockroach repellent. There’s a chance that these bugs will avoid the fragrant leaves but they’re not potent enough to keep the pests out of your house for good.
Buy: Pandanus Leaves, Dried | Aromatic and Delicious Blade-like Leaf | Popular Ingredient in Southeast Asian and South Asian Delicacies 0.5 oz.
Garlic
Don’t forget about what’s probably your first choice when
you think about strong odors and fragrant foods: garlic! Can the bane of
vampires also keep cockroaches out of your kitchen? It’s possible! Roaches seem
to dislike the scent, so sprinkling a little garlic powder in specific areas
could turn them away.
However, you won’t want to pour garlic powder, mint oil or
any of these herbs and spices all over
your house—that would be smelly. So
despite their positive effects, these DIY solutions probably aren’t going to
eliminate your cockroach problem; they might simply move it to another area of
your home.
Can You Repel Roaches With Fruits and Vegetables?
You might’ve heard claims that lemons are a great natural cockroach repellent. Many people advise homeowners to clean areas of their kitchens and bathrooms with lemon juice and water. However, this might help control roaches because it means more thorough cleaning, not necessarily because it means they’re deterred by the smell.
Others think placing crushed or ground lemon peels in
high-risk areas could repel roaches. Again, the lemon-scented mixture might not
be effective without the cleaning that usually goes with it.
How to Repel Roaches With Other Household Items
Catnip
Catnip might not be your first thought when you’re facing a roach problem—after all, it drives your cat crazy in the wrong way! But roaches have exactly the opposite reaction to this herb (which is part of the mint family). Nepetalactone, which is one of the main ingredients in catnip, is a strong repellent of cockroaches and some other bugs and could be very effective against your unwanted pest guests.
Some homeowners have also reported success when using coffee grounds as a natural cockroach deterrent. Fresh grounds could be placed in shallow containers on the floor or in cabinets to keep bugs out of specific areas.
Citronella Candles
Will citronella candles keep cockroaches away? You see them
on patios, at picnics and around campsites all over the world. But citronella
candles typically target flying insects, like mosquitos and gnats. They might
make a few flying cockroaches stop buzzing toward the lights, but it’s probably
not going to stop them from marching into your home.
Citronella Oil
However, citronella oil can be a more effective roach repellent. Even better, it’s non-toxic and pet-safe! Applying it is as simple as using a paper towel to wipe a little of the oil in the areas around their entry points and anywhere you’ve spotted them before.
You might wonder if you can scare roaches away with noise or lights. Well, that’s an easy one—yes, they’re terrified of you! That’s why they freeze in their tracks or run (or fly!) away as soon as you flick on a light and see them.
Unfortunately, you won’t scare them all the way out of your house. If they’ve made themselves comfortable, they’ll just hide in cupboards, cracks or crevices until it’s safe to come out again and continue searching for food.
There’s another category of products that you might’ve seen commercials for: “ultrasonic pest repellers” or other kinds of sound machines. While it could be debated whether these are a “natural” roach deterrent, they do claim to work, and do it without chemicals. Unfortunately, most of the research done so far shows that these aren’t effective ways to keep cockroaches, rodents or other pests out.
Conclusion
The best natural ways to get rid of roaches are the tried-and-true methods: thorough cleaning, natural insecticides (such as food-grade diatomaceous earth and boric acid) and a call to your local pest control company. Essential oils, herbs and spices won’t kill roaches and, though they might be able to deter them from certain areas, they probably won’t convince them to move on to another habitat—somewhere where you’re not their roommate.
But if you do choose to battle these bugs yourself, you can learn even more about the details of each cockroach species, their eggs, their diets and much more by exploring our other guides and articles. Good luck!
Sources
Yigzaw, Erika (2017) Green Cleaning: 10 Essential Oils That Naturally Repel Insects. American College of Healthcare Sciences. Retrieved from https://info.achs.edu/blog/green-cleaning-repel-insects
Appel, Arthur G. et al. (2001) Repellency and Toxicity of Mint Oil to American and German Cockroaches. Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Retrieved from https://scentsoc.org/Volumes/JAUE/v18/149.pdf
Banish, Daizy et al. (2008) Eucalyptus essential oil as a natural pesticide. Forest Ecology and Management. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112708006166?via%3Dihub
Wagers, Kay (2017) Citronella As Roach Repellent. Hunker. Retrieved from https://www.hunker.com/13406775/citronella-as-roach-repellent
Myth Busted: Is Pandan Leaf an Effective Cockroach Repellent? Rentokil. Retrieved from https://www.rentokil.com.sg/my-pest-control-quick-tips/pest-myths/myth-busted-is-pandan-leaf-an-effective-cockroach-repellent/
Found a brown cockroach and wondering what to do? You’re in good company.
With 7 species that fit the color scheme, and trillions of the pesky critters turning up in homes around the world, the brown roach you’ve just discovered is on a lot of other people’s radar, too.
If you’re looking for ways to get rid of your newfound friend, we’ll show you how to make that happen. But first you’ll need to identify the species, because each one calls for a specialized approach. We’ll do that with you here on this page, then link you off to the precise solutions that you need.
You’ll know an American cockroach when you see one, not so much due to its characteristic reddish brown color, as its size. At up to 2 inches long, it’s not just big. It’s huge, and is a familiar sight in homes, restaurants, and markets across the country.
American roaches are not good house guests. They emerge from sewers and garbage containers, invading human structures when the weather becomes too hot, too cold, too dry, or too wet. They come in search of moist, warm living conditions (like your basement or bathroom) and food. Luckily, they’re gentle giants that don’t bite humans. They do, however, spread potentially harmful bacteria wherever they go.
The Brown-Banded Cockroach
It’s all in the name: this tiny, light brown cockroach has distinctive tan or yellow bands running horizontally across its back.
While male brown-banded cockroaches have long translucent wings that completely cover the pattern, the female brown-banded cockroach has shorter wings that leave some of the bands exposed, making them easier to spot (and the roach easier to identify).
Brown banded roaches sometimes hitchhike in grocery bags and furniture that you’re bringing inside. They do nothing but complain when it’s cold, so they typically live (and lay their egg capsules) in warm, high-up places, like the upper third of walls.
They’ll eat a wide variety of things, including cardboard and paper. So pack rats (you know who you are) beware: all those high school report cards, college posters and decades-old newspaper clippings are at risk.
The German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the
pest in the U.S. These roaches are everywhere.
If you’ve ever lived in a city apartment, you’ve almost certainly seen them.
It’s a tiny roach—only about the size of a penny—and a very light brown. Look for two dark vertical stripes running down its back on each side—that’s its giveaway.
They have wings, but don’t worry—German roaches rarely fly. They do run like track stars though, and are difficult to catch, or squash.
The Asian Cockroach
The Asian cockroach lives mostly in the southern United States. It’s a prolific egg layer and tends to spread quickly after it’s found a suitable habitat.
Perhaps most striking about the Asian cockroach is its uncanny resemblance to the German cockroach, and even experts have been known to mix them up. Asian cockroach adults have longer, thinner wings than German’s though. And if you really wanted to, you could look under the wings of a dead one and see that its stripes are thicker than the German’s.
Or you could just wait a little while to see if it flies. While German roaches hardly ever leave the ground, Asian cockroaches fly easily when disturbed.
The Smokybrown Cockroach
Smokybrown roaches are flat, narrow and pretty long. They’re close relatives of the American roach and also fairly large. If you were to compare them side by side, the smaller, dark brown roach will be the smokybrown.
Smokybrowns are infamously attracted to lights and bright TV screens. If there’s a big brown cockroach buzzing around your patio lights, it’s probably one of these. They’re big fans of attics, especially attics without fans, where they can bask in the humid air.
The Australian Cockroach
The Outback’s most famous brown cockroach is the Australian cockroach. At about 1 1/2 inches long, it’s far from small. While it looks remarkably similar to the American cockroach, its signature yellow wing stripes give the game away.
These bugs look for ways inside when the temperature starts to drop, so if you’ve seen this roach, watch out for more in your kitchen and bathroom.
The Wood Cockroach
Though there are actually twelve types of wood cockroach species in the United States (twelve!) the one you’re most likely to encounter in your home or yard is the Pennsylvania wood cockroach.
This outdoor roach is a dark brown color with tan or transparent stripes around the upper part of its back. At an inch or so in length, it’s about the size of a quarter.
You might find wood roaches hiding in your garage or living in piles of firewood or decaying matter. They’re attracted to lights, so don’t be surprised if yours got in through an open window.
Next Steps
Discovering an ugly brown cockroach can ruin a perfectly good day. But once you identify it, you can find the specific solutions for dealing with it (by clicking into any of the species-specific guides above).
You can take a DIY approach to pest management using roach baits, powders, and plenty of prevention- or call a pest control company to take care of the job. But for the sake of your home, your peace of mind, and possibly your health, you don’t want to do nothing. Because where there’s a single brown roach, there are often many more.
And with a little information, you can head off or solve a roach control problem before it gets any worse. Cockroach infestations are not a lot of fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the large brown cockroach I’m seeing?
The largest of the brown-colored species are the American cockroach, the smokybrown cockroach and the Australian cockroach. If you’re looking at a bug that’s bigger than 1 1/2 inches, it’s probably one of these heavyweights. American roaches are wood-brown while smokybrown roaches are darker in color. The Australian roach has a distinctive yellow ring around the area behind its head.
What is the small brown cockroach I’m seeing?
It’s probably a German cockroach, an Asian cockroach, a brown-banded cockroach or one of a dozen wood cockroaches. German and Asian roaches look almost identical, with dark stripes running down their backs. Brown-banded cockroaches give themselves away with their horizontal light-brown bands. And wood cockroaches come in a variety of styles.
Where do big brown roaches come from?
Big brown cockroaches are typically outdoor species. The come from lots of gross and unsanitary places, including drainpipes, sewers, dumpsters, forest undergrowth and gutters. When they come inside, it’s usually through a hole or crack in a wall, a torn window screen or the pipes beneath your sink or bathtub.
Written by Andrew Martin. Reviewed by Rae Osborn, PhD.
Andrew Martin
Writer/Publisher
Andrew writes for, and along with his daughter, publishes Cockroach Facts. You can read more about him here.
Rae Osborn, PhD.
Science Editor
Dr. Rae Osborn holds Honors Bachelor of Science degrees in Zoology and Entomology, and a Master of Science in Entomology from the University of Natal in South Africa. She holds a PhD in Quantitative Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington, where her research was in Entomology. You can learn more about our contributors here.
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