What do cockroaches look like and which are the most common species?

The cockroach is one of the most common and, let’s face it, unpleasant pests in the home. Some people are simply disgusted by them, while others are afraid of them, worried about cockroach-borne diseases and feel shame or even guilt.

But getting to know your “enemies” will help you overcome them. So, let’s discuss what do cockroaches look like? And how do you say goodbye to these household pests for good?

What do cockroaches look like?

Here’s a brief overview of what the main body parts of cockroaches look like:

• Wings. Cockroaches have a distinctive appearance, with several main features. Although cockroaches cannot usually fly, they all have wings without exception. Depending on the species, the size of the wings varies. For example, the wings of the American cockroach are well-developed, whereas the wings of the German cockroach are not adapted for flying.
• Legs. Cockroaches have 6 spiny legs that help them crawl and climb quickly on a variety of surfaces, including walls and ceilings. The spines on the legs facilitate traction and help them move around, so they can easily crawl even in tight spaces.
• Mouth. The structure of the cockroach’s mouth is adapted for biting and stinging. Their mouths are downward-facing, which makes it easier for them to feed on a variety of organic material – food scraps, paper, etc.
• Pronotum (Latin: Pronotum). This is a shield-like plate covering the breast of the cockroach. This protective ‘structure’ serves as armour, protecting the vital organs of the insect from potential damage.
• Antennae. Cockroaches have long, thin antennae that protrude above their heads. […]

Small cockroaches, or nymphs

If you notice small cockroaches scurrying around your house, it may simply be a species of cockroach, which is smaller in general, but could also be nymphs of common cockroaches.

Nymphs are young cockroaches, similar to adults, except that their wings and reproductive organs have not yet developed. These small cockroaches spawn many times and leave their snouts (external skeletons) as they grow.

Depending on the species and the stage of the life cycle, nymphs can come in a variety of sizes and colours, but most of the time they still resemble miniature versions of adult cockroaches.

The small cockroaches we see may also be male: adult females are usually larger than their partners.

How do I know if cockroaches have taken up residence indoors?

For example, there are around 19,000 species of insects in Lithuania alone, so sometimes we may doubt whether we have actually seen a cockroach.

So, while cockroaches share similarities with other insects, there are specific features and characteristics that help to identify them.

• Colour and shape. Cockroaches are normally flat-bodied and dark brown or black in colour. The oval shape of their bodies can be confused with other beetles or crickets, but cockroaches do not have the hardened forewings of beetles, nor do they make any sound like crickets.
• Behaviour. Cockroaches are nocturnal insects. They prefer to hide in dark, secluded places during the day, such as under sinks, in cellars, etc., and only at night do they go foraging for food. If you see bugs scurrying around when you turn on the light, there’s a good chance they are cockroaches.
• Droppings and smell. Cockroach droppings are fine, dark coloured droppings that resemble ground coffee or chilli pepper flakes. Cockroaches also give off a certain unpleasant foul smell, which is more intense where there is a larger colony of pests.
• Cockroach eggs. Eggs are usually found in the scrotum, also known as the oteca. They are small, brownish or brown, bean-shaped, usually between 5 and 13 mm long. Cockroach eggs can usually be found in secret places such as crevices, behind appliances, deep inside cupboards etc.

The most common cockroach species

There are over 4,000 species of cockroaches worldwide, all belonging to 5 families. There are 15 species of cockroaches on our continent, while 3 species are most common in Lithuania:

1. Brown Cockroach (also known as Prussian Cockroach, German Cockroach, Blattella germanica). These are smaller cockroaches compared to American cockroaches. Their body length is typically 12-15 mm. They are dark brown in colour and two stripes can be seen on the thorax. The wings are as long as the body or even longer. Brown cockroaches have sticky leg pads that make climbing easier.
2. Black (Oriental) cockroach (Blattella orientalis). The latter are also known as ‘water fleas’. They are dark brown or black, glossy and slightly larger than the brown ones. The body is 25-30 mm long. Females of this cockroach species do not have wings, while males cover most of the abdomen.
3. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). This is one of the largest cockroaches, which can be up to 45 mm long, although smaller insects can be ~28 mm long. They are reddish-brown in colour, have well-developed wings (longer than the body itself in males) and are even capable of flight.

How to eradicate cockroaches?

Now that you have learnt to recognise cockroaches, it is important to take action to get rid of their unpleasant company.

So how do you get cockroaches out of your house? Special insecticides, sticky cockroach traps as an aid.

It is true that these parasites can also be killed by home remedies such as baking soda, etc., but there is no guarantee that the cockroaches will return very soon.

For a complete guide on how to eradicate cockroaches, click here. But if you don’t want to get your hands dirty and want a good and long-lasting result, contact the Sterilus team for cockroach extermination.

Our years of experience and the methods we have developed allow us to eradicate cockroaches quickly, safely for all households and, most importantly, permanently.