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At a Glance Roach Identification and Treatment Summary Chart

Types of roaches and what different types of roaches look like.

It is very important to identify which type of roach you have before any roach control treatment. The smaller adult roaches are typically brought in the home or travel from other apartment units. The larger adult roaches live and breed outside.

Small Roaches (1/2"- 1")

German Roaches
German Roaches

German Roaches

Identification

German roach adults range in size from 1/2 inch- 5/8 inch long. They are light to medium brown with 2 dark distinctive stripes behind the head. The young (nymphs) are wingless, smaller and much darker in color, with a light stripe on their backs.

Habits and Biology

The German cockroach is one of the most common roaches found in apartment houses, restaurants, and hotels. German cockroaches (eggs included), are "brought in", usually on man's belongings, luggage, boxes or packages.

Sanitation & Exclusion

German roach control requires very good sanitation in the kitchen during your process of eliminating these roaches.

German Roach Control Measures

Generally speaking, German roach control is best by high-quality baits, such as Invict or Advion Roach Bait. These baits do not have bait aversion and bait resistance.

Restaurants will need to continue to spray using liquid insecticides, aerosols, dusts, and insect growth regulators.

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Brown Banded Roaches
Brown Banded Roaches

Brown Banded Roaches

Identification

Mistaken for the German Roach is common when identifying the Brown Banded Roach. Its habits are different from the German Roach. German cockroaches (eggs included) are brought inside or hitchhike on man's belongings, luggage, boxes, or packages. All it takes is bringing in one egg capsule, and in six months, you will have an infestation.

Habits and Biology

Since they do not require the same amount of moisture as the German roach, they are not usually found in the kitchens or bathrooms seeking water. They can be found under a major appliance like a refrigerator, however.

Sanitation & Exclusion

As with the German Roach, it is important to keep up with good sanitation.Since they may be found in all rooms, make sure good sanitation is throughout the structure.

Brown Banded Roach Control Measures

Since Brownbanded roaches are found in other locations besides kitchens and bathrooms, inspect and treat all rooms. Pay attention to the upper walls of closets, pantries, and ceilings.

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Large Roaches (1.5"-or more)

American Cockroach
American Cockroach

American Cockroach

Identification

The American roach is reddish-brown, about 1.5 inches long or longer, winged, but seldom fly. American Roaches are also known as a "water bug" or "palmetto bug". They will fly when temperatures are above 85 degrees. Females produce many egg capsules, having 14-16 eggs hatching in 50-55 days into grayish-brown "nymphs." Female American Roaches prefer to deposit their eggs in protected and damp areas.

Habits and Biology

The American female roach will drop her egg capsule near a food source or protected area.

As the American cockroaches mature they become more reddish-brown in appearance.

Sanitation & Exclusion

Exclusion techniques: caulking and screening for the American cockroach.

Sanitation: Eliminate food, moisture, and harborage areas available to the roaches.

American Roach Control Measures

Generally speaking, control measures should concentrate on the outside of the building and points of entry of the American Roach.

This is called a "perimeter or barrier" treatment.

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Australian Roach
Australian Roach

Australian Roach

Identification

They can be identified by yellow stripes along the outer front edge of the wings. In Florida, they are commonly called "palmetto bug", just like the American Roach. The Australian roach is often confused with the American roach. The female Australian roach drops egg cases in cracks and crevices to hide and protect them. Each one of these cases has about 24 eggs with a smaller percentage that hatch.

Habits and Biology

The Austrailan Roach is mainly found in the southern United States, but can be found in the northern states in greenhouses (where humidity is present). They are good fliers. They will enter buildings where there is enough food, humidity, and heat available.

Sanitation & Exclusion

Practice exclusion techniques such as sealing any cracks, gaps or openings with caulking compound, putty or plastic wood. Eliminate pet food outside. Maintain tight-fitting screens, doors and windows.

Australian Roach Control Measures

Generally speaking, control measures should concentrate on the outside of the building and points of entry of the Australian Roach.

This is called a "perimeter or barrier" treatment.

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Oriental Cockroach
Oriental Cockroach

Oriental Cockroach

Identification

Oriental roaches are shiny black and are about 1.25 inches long. They have wings but can not fly. The total length for the female is 1 ¼" and 1" for the male. Females produce an average of 8 egg Capsules, containing 16 eggs in each, from spring to mid-summer. Unlike other urban cockroaches, the Oriental roach produces only one generation per year, where temperatures are cool.

Habits and Biology

Oriental roaches can be found in damp areas such as crawl spaces and basements, as well as kitchens. These roaches can live in low temperature ranges, living in protected sites during the winter. During drought time or unseasonably cold weather, they may move inside your home.

Sanitation & Exclusion

Caulk all penetrations through ground-level walls. Stop water leaks, screen equipment overflow drains, and take overflow water away from buildings; keep drain traps full or capped.

Oriental Roach Control Measures

Generally speaking, control measures with a residual insecticide, such as LambdaStar Ultra Cap 9.7 should concentrate on the outside of the building and points of entry. This is called a "perimeter or barrier" treatment.

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Smokybrown Cockroach
Smokybrown Cockroach

Smokybrown Cockroach

Identification

This roach is slightly smaller than the American cockroach and they have a uniform mahogany color. These roaches fly at night toward lights. The female Smokybrown roach lays about 24 eggs in her egg capsule and each female produces17 capsules. These capsules are black and measure about 3/8 inch long.

Habits and Biology

Smokybrown roaches as a tropical cockroach are not all over the USA. They are common in central and east Texas, Gulf Coast, throughout Florida, and up the eastern seaboard.

Sanitation & Exclusion

Although the Smokybrown roach has many places to habitat outside, it will enter if there is an entry point. Seal as many cracks and crevices as possible.

Ventilate moist places. Control measures should concentrate on the outside of the building and points of entry of the Smokybrown Roach.

Smokeybrown Roach Control Measures

You may use concentrated residual sprays for Smokybrown Cockroach Control: inside or outside. Spray a 3-6 foot band around the entire house. Spray outside around doors, windows, pipe openings, and dryer vents.

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Woods Roach
Woods Roach

Woods Roach

Identification

Woods roaches are very similar in appearance to the American roach; They are slightly smaller than the American Cockroach, about 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch long. These roaches are attracted to light which makes them different from other roaches. Females produce about 950 eggs a year, with one generation.

Habits and Biology

The woods roach normal habitat is moist woodland areas, but they frequently become a household nuisance because they wander into or are carried into houses, with firewood, etc.

Sanitation & Exclusion

The insecticides used with success against other cockroach species are of very limited benefit against wood roaches. Exclusion techniques that prevent wood roach entry should be considered.

Wood Roach Control Measures

Occasionally, populations can build in crawl spaces under the house. Generally speaking, control measures should concentrate on the outside of the building and points of entry. This is called a "perimeter or barrier" treatment.

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