Orkin Exterminator & Termite Control

What Does a Cockroach Look Like

The cockroach has a flat, oval-shaped body. The bodies of cockroaches are oily to the touch and may be cool or warm, depending on the temperature of their environment. The head of a cockroach is small and is covered by a shield-like pronotum. Cockroaches have six long, spiny legs that allow them to run quickly across almost any surface. The specialized pads located at their tarsi are used for scaling glass windows and for walking on walls and ceilings. A cockroach's mouth is bent down and backwards-in order to improve mastication. Some species of cockroaches have wings that are flattened against their backs, although not all cockroaches use these wings for flight.

Male cockroaches are typically distinguished from females by two raised horns upon the thorax. Female specimens have only slight bumps on the thorax. Cockroach eggs are encased in egg cases, called oothecae, which are commonly oval-shaped and dark brown in color. Young cockroaches appear similar to adults but are pale in color and do not have wings. After molting several times, young cockroach nymphs become mature adults.

The German cockroach is brown and approximately ½" long. The Oriental cockroach can grow to be much larger and is black in color. The American cockroach is reddish-brown in color and is one of the longest domestic cockroach species, measuring approximately 1.5 inches in length. The wood roach is similar to the American cockroach in appearance, but is slightly smaller, measuring between 3/4 and 1.25 inches in length. Male adults of this species are tan in color.

Difference Between a Cockroach and a Palmetto Bug

Difference Between a Waterbug and a Cockroach