Stop wondering how to spot a cockroach accurately. This guide explains in words and pictures what the dreaded pest looks like. Find out here which harmless animal looks similar to a dangerous cockroach and often pays for the mistake with its life.

German cockroaches are smaller than American ones

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. How to recognize cockroach?
  3. Who is Cockroach Doppelganger?
  4. cockroach cockroach difference
  5. Cockroach species in Germany
  6. Cockroach found
  7. How does she get in?
  8. Tips against cockroach plague
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • A cockroach has a flat, round-oval, 10-44 mm body with 6 long legs and noticeably long antennae.
    • The harmless forest cockroach is often confused with the dangerous German cockroach.
    • In contrast to the nocturnal cockroach, the forest cockroach can fly well and is active during the day.

    What does a cockroach look like? - Identifying features

    A German cockroach is instantly recognizable once you are familiar with distinctive features of the body. Although different species spread fear and terror in Germany, the following identifying features are clear even for the cockroach layman:

    • body shape: round-oval, flattened
    • size: 10-44mm long
    • legs: 6 long, spiky legs with small claws at the end
    • color: reddish brown, tawny, dark brown to black
    • flying machine: body length, short, rudimentary or no wings
    • neck shield: with 2 dark stripes
    • sensor: usually longer than the body

    A baby cockroach already looks a lot like its parents. Young cockroaches hatch from the eggs as a nymph rather than a larva. For this reason, the young animal goes through its numerous developmental stages in the form of a mini cockroach with a length of 3 to 30 mm, depending on the species and age. The following pictures show a typical cockroach from above, from the side and from below.

    digression

    Cockroach - a dangerous insect

    Among insects, the cockroach is light-years removed from the status of a symbol of good luck or sympathy like the ladybug or rhinoceros beetle - and rightly so. The cockroach is not a real beetle anyway, but belongs to the insect order of the cockroaches (Blattodea). The cockroach is a potential vector of disease with dangerous pathogens such as salmonella, hepatitis, tuberculosis, anthrax and other frightening infections. The pests contaminate our food with their droppings. Under the cover of darkness, the beasts first run through sewage pipes, over dirty floors and dirty toilets. The cockroaches then dart over cutlery, crockery, bed linen and supplies, where they spread the germs.

    What animal looks like a cockroach? - innocent double

    The beautiful forest cockroach is often confused with the cockroach

    There is one animal in the insect kingdom that has to bear the heavy burden of being pursued and killed as a cockroach look-alike. The forest cockroach (Ectobiinae) is distantly related to the German cockroach and looks confusingly similar to the pest. At this point all similarities end, because the subfamily of the wood cockroaches represents the only free-living cockroaches in Germany with an important task for the ecological balance.

    Deciduous and mixed forests are the habitat of a wood cockroach. Because decomposing plant debris is their favorite food, the amber cockroach makes a valuable contribution to the ecosystem. From time to time the forest cockroach strays into a building. Desperately, the disoriented beneficial crawls or flies around in search of an escape route. Wood cockroaches are completely harmless, do not seek food and do not transmit disease. Unaware of these beneficial qualities, innocent amber cockroaches fall prey to their cockroach-likeness and are trampled or bludgeoned to death.

    Confusion excluded: cockroach and wood cockroach difference

    In the southern federal states of Germany, the harmless forest cockroach is now the most common cockroach species. Pest controllers are deployed several times to combat a supposed plague of cockroaches. The all-clear can then be given quickly on site, because the angry residents of the house have lumped cockroaches and cockroaches together. To avoid confusion with the dangerous cockroach, the following table summarizes significant differences:

    Comparison cockroach / cockroach German cockroach (German cockroach) wood cockroach (amber cockroach)
    size 12-15mm 10-15mm
    color brown to clay yellow brown to light brown
    neck shield 2 distinctive stripes no drawing
    Airworthy yes/no no Yes
    activity nocturnal diurnal
    food omnivore plant remains
    habitat building forests

    This direct comparison makes it clear why the number of victims of the wood cockroach is increasing as a result of a mix-up. The cockroach species is not only diurnal, but can also fly very well. In contrast, the German cockroach only ventures out of its hiding place at night, is only capable of clumsy gliding flight, and prefers to dash along the wall on nimble legs. Flying cockroaches in daylight are almost certainly harmless forest cockroaches.

    In the following video, pest controller Marianne Jäger has her say and explains important differences between cockroaches and wood cockroaches:

    youtube

    Cockroach - common species in Germany

    In Germany, there are primarily 4 types of cockroaches that teach people to fear. All of them were imported from distant countries, are dangerous disease carriers and can only survive in heated buildings. Although the appearance of the pests cannot deny a certain family resemblance, distinctive, individual characteristics can be noted. The following table provides an overview of the most common cockroaches in Germany with species-specific information on each animal:

    Cockroach Species German cockroach Oriental cockroach American cockroach Asian cockroach
    size 12-15mm 25-30mm 28-44mm 10-14mm
    color brown to clay yellow dark brown to black bright reddish brown yellow-brown
    wing minimum body length max. 3/4 body length minimum body length maximum body length
    ability to fly Gliding, restricted floor runner from 26-29° Celsius from 26-29° Celsius
    activity nocturnal nocturnal nocturnal nocturnal
    middle name European cockroach Common cockroach American cockroach Brown Band Cockroach
    botanical name Blattella germanica Blatta orientalis Periplaneta americana Supella longipalpa

    The following short portraits provide in-depth information on each cockroach species:

    German cockroach (Blattella germanica)

    Like all cockroaches, the German cockroach can run very fast

    The German cockroach is an omnivore with an insatiable appetite for food, supplies of all kinds, as well as paper, leather and textiles. Warm and humid living conditions in the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and bathroom magically attract the insect. Female cockroaches produce 35 to 40 eggs, which hatch into baby cockroaches as nymphs after about a month. The life expectancy of a German cockroach is up to 200 days. Time enough for an explosive multiplication in the dark hiding place. A Blattella germanica is capable of a short gliding flight. A European cockroach prefers to move forward vertically and horizontally on its long legs at a nimble 29 cm per second.

    Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

    With its dark, round-oval body, the oriental cockroach is reminiscent of a beetle at first glance. The cockroach is easy to distinguish from its peers by the opaque neck shield. Despite having long wings, the large, heavyweight cockroach cannot fly. The insect makes up for this disadvantage with a rapid speed of a whopping 5 km/h, with which it sprints over the ground. Blatta orientalis live in tribes and create well-camouflaged nests. Even with a massive infestation, no living specimens can be seen during the day. Females produce 5 to 10 chestnut-colored egg packets, each containing 16 eggs, which are placed in warm, humid locations. This results in a particularly large propagation potential.

    American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

    The American cockroach has extremely long antennae

    The American cockroach sports an extra-large pronotum and boasts epically long antennae. Furthermore, the cockroach species can be accurately identified due to its reddish-brown color. Females are particularly diligent in egg production. Up to 15 egg packets with up to 28 eggs are the lifetime achievement of a single cockroach lady, so that the infested site is swarming with mini cockroaches within a short time. American cockroaches are extremely warmth-loving, which makes them a notorious nuisance in conservatories, saunas, indoor pools and greenhouses.

    Asian cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

    Anyone who thinks a dry environment is safe from cockroach infestation doesn't know the Asian cockroach. This type of cockroach is rightly referred to colloquially as a sofa or furniture cockroach. The little cockroach is on the rise in Germany since global warming has become noticeable. The Asian cockroach only uses its wings when the temperature is high. The insect prefers to run across floors and walls at lightning speed. The brown banded cockroach can be recognized by two brown horizontal stripes on the neck shield, to which the name refers.

    tips

    Do you already know the biggest cockroach in the world? The monster cockroach is an impressive 10 centimeters long and was discovered in 2004 by a team of researchers on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Of course, the gigantic insect is not a cockroach in the true sense of the word. Rather, the record holder feeds on plant waste and can therefore be counted among the beneficials, like our native forest cockroach.

    Found a cockroach - what to do?

    After seeing a cockroach, don't just get on with business as usual. If the nocturnal pests dart through the house in daylight, this indicates a high infestation pressure. The rule of thumb here is: for every live or dead cockroach spotted, there are an average of 200 hidden specimens. The following 4-step plan explains how to act correctly from the first suspicion to a cockroach-free apartment:

    Buy and set up a cockroach trap

    Commercially offered cockroach traps do not solve the pest problem. Nevertheless, a trap provides valuable assistance in monitoring. It is a non-toxic, odorless sticky trap that is placed at suspicious locations. This way you can determine the infestation pressure as well as identify the species of cockroaches that need to be controlled. The trap will kill individual specimens. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Effective cockroach control cannot be achieved with sticky traps, bait cans or comparable catching devices.

    Contact pest control or property management

    In the event of a severe infestation, a pest controller should definitely be contacted

    Has the cockroach trap cleared the last doubts? Then do not hesitate and get in touch with a certified pest controller. As a tenant, please report the cockroach infestation to the owner or the property management immediately. Cockroach control is always a race against time. Given explosive growth rates, there is little scope for experimentation on your own. The catch rate of the cockroach trap already gives the exterminator important information on the correct procedure.

    Take preparatory measures

    As a cockroach victim, you are not doomed to inaction when you hire a pest controller. You can provide active support work in advance with the following preparatory measures:

    • Remove food completely from all rooms infested with cockroaches
    • Subject the affected rooms to thorough cleaning
    • Thoroughly clean all cupboards and equipment in the room
    • Remove residues of cockroaches with the vacuum cleaner: egg packets, wings, remains of cocoons, dead cockroaches

    Combat by the exterminator

    In modern pest control, certified experts can fall back on a wide range of effective methods. The Schabengel process has proven to be excellent. Cockroach Gel is a stomachic poison reserved for trained specialists when used. The agent is applied in a targeted manner near nests, hiding places and walkways. Because cockroach gel has a baiting effect, successful control is achieved very quickly. Just a few particles are enough to kill a cockroach within a day.

    At the same time, the cockroach gel method fights the harmful insects indirectly. Cockroaches are cannibals who pounce on dead and weakened members of their own species to eat them. In this way, a multiplier effect is achieved that optimizes the success of the fight and shortens the waiting time until you have your home again.

    greedy, super fast and unbreakable (book title by P.M. editor-in-chief and publisher Hannes Sprado about the fantastic life of cockroaches)

    How does a cockroach get into the apartment?

    Cockroaches often come into the house through the sewer system

    Encountering a single cockroach raises the question of how the beast got into the apartment. Small consolation in advance: Cockroaches have nothing to do with poor hygiene. Cockroaches congregate wherever suitable living conditions exist and food sources are plentiful. The rabble is usually brought in by food packaging or used electrical appliances. Sometimes cockroaches boldly enter the house via the sewage system. The following tips sum up the signs of a cockroach infestation and where you should look out for them:

    cockroach in the house

    Cockroaches leave telltale tracks. The earlier you recognize the symptoms and take countermeasures, the more effective the fight against them. Look out for the following signs of an impending plague of cockroaches in the house:

    • eggs: Female cockroaches lay their eggs as small, maroon-colored packets
    • cocoons: Because a young animal sheds its skin up to 8 times, there are transparent cocoons lying around in the house
    • excrement: Fecal crumbs are as small as 1 mm and lie on the floor, on walls or in stores like coffee powder
    • stink: Cockroaches give off a sickening, musty smell

    Although feeding damage is an indication, it is not reliable proof of cockroach infestation in the house as the sole characteristic. Numerous other pests also attack food, packaging or plants, such as mice, rats or beetles. If, on the other hand, you find dead cockroaches in your living space, there is no longer any doubt that the dreaded pests are present in your immediate living environment.

    Cockroach in the bathroom

    A great roach hiding spot is just behind cabinets in the bathroom. Soap, shower gel and similar care products exert an irresistible attraction. The medicine cabinet is often used by the fiends as a nest. Take a look behind the sink, bathtub and toilet. Cockroaches happily munch on soap scum, hair, dander, toilet paper and Tempo handkerchiefs.

    Cockroach in the kitchen

    Cockroaches are particularly common in the kitchen

    The cockroach likes to live up to its middle name cockroach. Check cabinets, shelves and drawers from all sides (especially the back). Pay special attention to the sink and dishwasher, as well as the associated plumbing. Electrical appliances in the kitchen are often underestimated as sources of infestation for a plague of cockroaches. Please examine these devices:

    • stove
    • coffee machine
    • fridge
    • freezer
    • microwave
    • Mixer (handheld and standing device)
    • sandwich maker
    • Toaster

    All places that are not easy to see in everyday life are suspicious. Even the smallest crevices, gaps and holes require careful inspection.

    Cockroach in the room

    Subject every room in the house and apartment to a critical appraisal. A cockroach can use its flat body to squeeze through the transition between the floor and the wall. At this point, look for the tiniest crevices and slits. Perfect hiding places are cracks in the wooden floor. Newspapers, stacks of paper and cardboard boxes lying around are a non-verbal invitation for voracious cockroaches to eat and hide.

    Cockroach in the garden

    Much to the chagrin of hobby gardeners, the oriental cockroach has discovered the garden as an ideal retreat for itself. In contrast to other cockroach species, the Blatta orientalis tolerates lower temperatures. As long as the thermometer does not fall below the 10-degree mark, the garden shed, garden sauna (€24.90) and garage also come into focus as potential infestation sites. Inspect plumbing throughout the garden for damage and cracks in decking boards as hardened roaches may be hiding inside. From spring to early autumn, undiscovered oriental cockroaches continue to multiply in the garden and quickly move into the house before the first frost.

    Tips against cockroach plague

    All cracks and accesses should be sealed

    Are neighbors complaining about cockroaches? Do you have a vague suspicion that the pests have made their home in your home? Is there a foul stench of indefinable origin spreading through the house? Then these are good reasons to take the following measures to stop an impending plague. These tips explain how to prevent nasty cockroaches:

    deny access

    • Seal access points: door gaps, wall cracks, cable ducts, supply shafts, wall joints, end strips
    • Carry out forced ventilation several times a day in suspect rooms
    • turn down the heating in at-risk rooms
    • Open holiday luggage outside, shake out clothes and examine everything for cocoons, wings, feces and egg packages
    • Thoroughly inspect second-hand goods in front of the apartment for cockroach remains, nests, live or dead animals

    deprive of livelihood

    • Store food in tightly closed containers
    • Clear away leftover food immediately, wipe off crumbs, splashes and the like
    • Remove food residues under stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher
    • Wash dishes, pots and glasses immediately after each use
    • Remove and clean the feeding bowl for dogs and cats immediately after the meal
    • Garbage from the kitchen bucket should be placed outside in the bin for residual waste or organic waste every day
    • Do not leave dirty laundry and used diapers lying around
    • Do not leave water in washbasin, sink or bucket overnight

    A positive side effect of these measures: They not only repel cockroaches, but also effectively prevent other pests and pests, such as fruit flies, mosquitoes, house flies and other insects.

    frequently asked Questions

    What is a cockroach?

    Cockroach is the colloquial term for a number of harmful species of cockroaches from the insect family. These include in particular the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and the American large cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Cockroaches are feared disease carriers and nasty storage pests. The nocturnal pests are mainly found in buildings, reproduce explosively and are resistant to almost all insecticides. A cockroach can be recognized by its flat, round-oval body and remarkably long antennae.

    Can you kill a cockroach with hairspray?

    You can't kill a cockroach with hairspray

    The commendable affinity for home remedies in pest control bears strange fruit. This includes the rumor that hairspray can kill a cockroach. First of all, you would have to have the reflexes of a table tennis world champion to be able to even spray the nimble, shy insect with hairspray in the dark. Since cockroaches have developed robust resistance to almost all pesticides, harmless hairspray will leave the pests unnoticed anyway.

    How can I identify cockroach infestations in the house?

    Cockroaches are very difficult to spot in buildings. Clarity is usually only when you have found a dead or live cockroach. Sometimes transparent remains of cocoons catch the eye because young animals shed their skin regularly. Another indication are brownish egg packets, mostly 1 cm in size. Brown-black stool crumbs also indicate cockroach infestation.

    What measures can be taken to prevent cockroaches?

    Cockroaches depend on human food. The pests are omnivores and attack the supplies indiscriminately. A good strategy against the greedy gorges is cockroach-proof packaging, such as sealable containers made of glass, metal or plastic. Ideally, store food in the refrigerator where a roach cannot reach. Clean the kitchen thoroughly after each meal, including dishes, cutlery and glasses.

    Can a cockroach fly?

    The cockroach is an insect and for this reason it has more or less well-developed wings. Neither the German cockroach nor the cockroach can fly properly. In an emergency, a short glide is possible. When it comes to supposedly flying cockroaches, it is mostly a distantly related species of cockroach, also known as the amber cockroach and golden cockroach. A forest cockroach is harmless, diurnal, and doomed to die indoors. If a cockroach doppelganger buzzes around your head during the day, please open the window and release the beneficial insect into the well-deserved freedom.

    tips

    Enough scolding the cockroach. Every creature from the realm of nature also has a good side to it. The cockroach represents a powerful power animal that knows how to survive under the toughest conditions. The unconditional will to live is expressed, among other things, in the fact that a German cockroach can live without a head for up to a week. A revitalizing role model for all people who are so severely affected by the stress of everyday life that they no longer know where their head is at.

Category:

Animals in the garden