German Roaches

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There’s no good time to find a cockroach running across your kitchen floor. Unfortunately, though, most homeowners have encountered such a sight more than once. And with more than 3,500 species worldwide and 55 species in the United States, a scurrying cockroach is a common household occurrence.

Cockroaches are incredibly adaptable and have adjusted to the earth’s changes for more than 300 million years; their diet, size, and ability to reproduce quickly and in large numbers enables the species to endure the test of time.

The two most common species found in homes throughout the United States are the German cockroach and the American cockroach. What are German roaches, exactly? Where do German roaches come from? More importantly, how can you tell which kind of roach may be inside your home?

Appearance is one of the easiest ways to identify the type of cockroach that might be living in your home. Adult German cockroaches are light brown or tan in color and range from 1/2 inch to 5/8 inches in length. They also have two dark horizontal stripes located behind their head that stretches down their back.

American cockroaches are much lighter in comparison, with a reddish-brown appearance and light-brown coloring on the back of its head. As one of the largest cockroaches species, the American cockroach is much larger than its German counterpart, measuring up to 1.5 inches long.

While cockroaches are able to live in many different environments, both German and American cockroaches prefer warm, humid areas. As a result, they’re typically found indoors near kitchens and bathrooms. They can also be found in other environments where food and moisture are available.

You would think that these pesky critters hail from Germany, but surprisingly, that isn’t the case. Since cockroaches have roamed the Earth for millions of years, entomologists can only guess how they made it over to the United States. Experts believe that German roaches actually came from Southeast Asia and were transported here on the ships of explorers, such as Marco Polo, who traveled from Venice to Beijing and then back to Europe. Another theory is that the German roach made its way across the ocean from Africa on slave ships. Although entomologists are unsure about how German roaches made it here, there is one thing they do agree upon: these roaches are now well-established and there is little hope of eradicating them for good.

German cockroaches usually make their way into your home via bags, boxes, or containers. New or used appliances can also bring it these critters. Once inside, the pests can easily move around or in between structures, using shared plumbing and pipes for travel.

Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures and tend to hide in dark spaces during the day, but come out at night in search of food.

German cockroaches will eat just about anything, including soap and books. But given the choice, they prefer starches, decaying sweets, greasy foods, and meat products. This species is known for their scavenger-like abilities when it comes to finding food, feeding on dirty dishes left overnight, or crumbs sitting on counter- and table-tops missed during cleaning.

Similar to German cockroaches, the American cockroach doesn’t have a hard time finding food, consuming anything from paper products to dead insects to organic matter and sweets; they’re also known for their scavenger-like personalities. 

Compared to other cockroach species, German cockroaches are the most prolific. In one year, a single female cockroach and her offspring can produce up to 30,000 cockroaches. On average, a female will produce 4 to 6 egg cases in their lifetime, and each case contains between 30 and 40 eggs. To protect her eggs, the female carries them with her until they’re ready to hatch.

While there are many differences between the two, both American and German cockroaches can be hazardous to your home.

For starters, they’re known to carry pathogens. And because they tend to lurk in kitchens, they’re responsible for many foodborne illnesses like Salmonella and E. Coli. Contaminated food can also cause food poisoning, dysentery, and diarrhea.

Apart from foodborne illnesses, cockroach excrement and cast skins produce allergic reactions. Such reactions include rashes, watery eyes, sneezing, and asthma.

Because of their quick reproduction rates, it’s important to notice the signs of a cockroach infestation as early as possible. Be on the lookout for droppings, egg capsules, and odors.

Droppings of German cockroaches are small and dark and often found on countertops and inside drawers. American cockroach droppings are slightly different, with ridges on the side and blunt ends. The droppings are small in size and often found in dark areas where the cockroaches hide.

Egg capsules are found in areas where cockroaches frequent, but sometimes hide them behind appliances or under cabinets. Both species create a “musty” smell and will only be noticed as the infestation begins to grow.