German or Oriental cockroach? How to tell which one you have
You recognise a German cockroach by its size and its stripes: it is about 1.1 to 1.5 cm long, straw yellow to light brown, with two black stripes running lengthways on the shield behind its head. It is active at night and darts away when the light goes on. This article shows how it differs from the Oriental cockroach, the American cockroach and the brown-banded cockroach, and from the wood cockroach that comes in from outside. The sizes come from the Dutch Knowledge and Advisory Centre on Animal Pests (KAD).
In this article
How do you identify a German cockroach?
By the two black stripes running lengthways behind its head, its straw yellow to light brown colour and a length of about 1.1 to 1.5 cm. It has wings, but according to the KAD it only flies at very high temperatures. Its upper legs carry a full row of spines. You mainly see it at night in the kitchen and bathroom; the female often carries an egg case on her abdomen.
What types of cockroach are there in homes?
Four species live in homes: the German cockroach, the Oriental cockroach, the American cockroach and the brown-banded cockroach. Wood cockroaches also live outdoors and sometimes come in by accident.
| Species | Length | Colour and features | Does it fly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| German cockroach (Blattella germanica) | about 1.1 to 1.5 cm | straw yellow to light brown, two black stripes behind the head | has wings, hardly ever flies |
| Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) | about 2.1 to 2.8 cm | reddish brown to blue black, nymphs very dark | no |
| American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) | about 2.8 to 4.4 cm | glossy reddish brown, pale yellow markings on the wings and behind the head | short gliding flights in warm weather |
| Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) | about 1 to 1.5 cm | plain dark shield behind the head, two dark brown bands across the body | flies up easily |
| Wood cockroaches (Ectobius) | about 0.5 to 1.3 cm | each species its own marking behind the head | some species fly well |
How do you identify an Oriental cockroach?
The Oriental cockroach is bigger and darker than the German cockroach: about 2.1 to 2.8 cm and reddish brown to blue black. So a black cockroach in the house may well be an Oriental cockroach. It does not fly; only the male has well developed wings. The female carries her egg case for only a few days, and the nymphs are very dark.
How do you identify an American cockroach?
By its size: at about 2.8 to 4.4 cm, the American cockroach is the largest of the four. It is glossy reddish brown, with pale yellow markings on the wings and behind the head. It makes short gliding flights in warm weather, but according to the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office it rarely flies.
What is a brown-banded cockroach?
A small cockroach of about 1 to 1.5 cm, the same size as the German cockroach. The difference is in the pattern: the brown-banded cockroach has a plain dark shield behind the head and two dark brown bands across the body, while the German cockroach has two black stripes running lengthways. The brown-banded cockroach flies up easily.
What is the difference between a German cockroach and a wood cockroach?
A wood cockroach lives outdoors, is active during the day and at dusk, and does not breed indoors (KAD). A German cockroach lives indoors, shies away from light and breeds fast. If you see a single light brown cockroach near a window in summer, first read about the wood cockroach in the house.
What should you do if it is a German cockroach?
Act quickly, because according to the KAD a female produces seven egg cases of about 30 eggs on average. Remove food, water and hiding places, put a cockroach trap in every spot where you see them, and call in a professional pest controller for a large infestation. The full step by step plan is in our guide how to get rid of cockroaches.
Sources: Dutch Knowledge and Advisory Centre on Animal Pests (KAD), species pages German, Oriental and American cockroach, brown-banded cockroach and wood cockroaches; Baden-Württemberg State Health Office, cockroach information (2019); University of Florida IFAS, EENY-002.
