What Are the Differences Between the American Cockroach and the German Cockroach?
If you are unfamiliar with cockroaches, it can be difficult to tell one species from another. You might not know if the cockroach in your home is an American cockroach or a German cockroach. It's important to know the difference because pest control measures are different for each species of cockroach. There are some key differences that will tell you what kind of cockroach you have.
An American cockroach will differ from a German cockroach in size, appearance, and habitat.
Appearance of German Cockroach vs Appearance of American Cockroach
The German cockroach is about a half inch to five-eighths inch long. It has a brown color with two stripes. The stripes are located behind its head and spanning down its thorax. The German cockroach has wings, but it does not fly.
The American cockroach is larger than the German cockroach. It's the biggest cockroach that you will see in the United States. It's about an inch and a half to two inches in length. American cockroaches are reddish brown in color. Their color turns to a faded yellow color at their thorax's edges. The American cockroach has strong wings and is able to fly.
Habitat of German Cockroach vs Habitat of American Cockroach
A German cockroach likes to live around heated, man-made structures. It will hide somewhere out of the open. The cockroaches hide in the cracks and crevices of your home. They're very attracted to the warm spaces around appliance motors. German cockroaches are more common than the American cockroach, so they are the ones who are most likely to invade homes.
An American cockroach likes to live in warm, dark, and damp environments. It is the sewers, in storm drains, homes, and outdoors. Inside a home, the American cockroach will be in the moist, dark places. They'll be attracted to places with any decaying matter within the home. They will often be in basements, utility rooms, crawl spaces, attics, and in the walls.
When German and American Cockroaches Invade Your Home
German cockroaches are the most likely to invade your home. They reproduce quickly and are difficult to get rid of once you have them. American cockroaches are not as common indoors. They're more likely to move in during colder months. Both of these cockroaches can cause you problems when they come into your home.
- Both of these species like to travel through bacteria-ridden places. They can then bring harmful pathogens into the clean areas of your home, like the places where you prepare food.
- They are able to carry diseases that can infect humans.
- Their body parts and feces can trigger allergies and asthma.
- Cockroaches can create unpleasant odors in your home.
Pest Control of German vs Pest Control of American Cockroaches
Pest control for the German cockroach involves aerosol products, residual aerosols, baits, perimeter sprays. Pest control for the American cockroach involves granular baits and perimeter sprays. The granular baits can be placed in attics, crawl spaces, and around the perimeter.
You can place baits in areas that the cockroaches frequent. When a cockroach consumes the bait, it is poisoned. When one cockroach dies from poison, several more cockroaches often will cannibalize the dead roach, and will also die. Sprays are used to inhibit the development and reproduction of cockroaches. The sprays can be used on surfaces that the cockroaches crawl across and in their hiding areas.
Removing cockroaches from your home is an involved and challenging process. This is especially true for the removal of the German cockroach. It's best if you leave the pest control to a professional exterminator.
Our team of professionals has the skills and knowledge needed to remove both species of roaches from your home. An experienced exterminator from our team will efficiently remove the pests from your home.