What is a Cockroach?
The earliest cockroach ancestors originated hundreds of millions of years ago. They are hardy insects, and have been proven to survive in a number of climates.
A cockroach has a flattened, oval body and long antennae (about the length of their body). It has six legs covered with spines. The typical cockroach is about the size of a thumbnail. Many adult cockroaches have fully developed wings, but only few fly. They are more active at night, and remain hidden during the day.
Typical cockroaches you may encounter are:
- German cockroach : The German cockroach is the most common cockroach species found worldwide. These cockroaches are recognized by their light brown to tan coloring with two dark, almost parallel stripes, located on their backs.
- Brown-banded cockroach: One of the smallest of the invasive cockroaches, the adult brown-banded cockroach may reach roughly half an inch in length. You'll notice tan bands on the back and wings of the cockroach.
- American cockroach: The largest invasive cockroach that you will encounter. These range from roughly one to two inches in size. They have a reddish brown body, with yellowish figure 8 on their head.
- Oriental cockroach: A large species of cockroach--adults are about one inch long. They have a dark brown to black body, and travel in sewers and water lines.
