Types of Roaches Found in Homes
There are a number of different species of roaches. Worldwide there are over 5000 different types of cockroaches that have been classified. Most species live in the tropics. They prefer warm, moist environments. Roaches have six legs covered in hair. The hairs are what gives the roach there sense of touch.There are a number of different types of roaches that are in the United States. Listed below are some of the more common that may be found in your home.
American Cockroach
Also known as the waterbug or misidentified as the palmetto bug This is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. They are most common in tropical climates. Because of humans though, they have extended their range of habitation. Global shipping has transported the insects to world ports including the southern United States.
These are some of the largest roaches that will be seen in homes. The largest of them can be up to 50cm in length. The adult American roach is reddish brown or mahogany in color. The area behind their heads is outlined with a yellow band. The American cockroach is able to move quickly and at times are even capable to short flight.
Brown-banded Cockroach
A small species of cockroach, measuring about ⅝ in (10 to 14;mm) long. It is tan to light brown. It has two light-colored bands across the wings and abdomen, they may sometimes appear to be broken or irregular but are quite noticeable. The bands may be partly obscured by the wings. The male has wings that cover the abdomen, while the female has wings that do not cover the abdomen completely. The male appears more slender than the female, the female appears wider.
The brown-banded cockroach has a fairly wide distribution, being found in the northeastern, southern, and midwest regions of the United States quite commonly. They need less moisture than the most roaches; so they tend to be found in more areas of the home, such as in living rooms and bedrooms. They can often be found in homes and apartments, but are less common in restaurants. Like most roaches, they tend not to be found in the daytime, since they avoid light.
The brown-banded cockroach eats a wide variety of items. Cockroaches are usually scavengers, and thus can eat a wide array of items, often almost anything organic, including decaying matter. It has been known to cause problems in hospitals by emerging at night to feed on bodily fluids, thereby risking cross-infection.
Oriental Cockroach
The oriental cockroach is a large species of cockroach, measuring about 1” in length. They are dark brown to black in color and has a glossy body. The female Oriental cockroach has a somewhat different appearance to the male, appearing to be wingless at casual glance but has two very short and useless wings just below her head. She has a wider body than the male. The male has long wings, which cover a majority of his body and are brown in color, and has a more narrow body. The odd male is capable of very short flights, ranging about 2 to 3 meters.