American Cockroach

Introduction

The American cockroach also is called a "Waterbug", the "Bombay Canary", and the "Palmettobug". Despite its name, the American cockroach is not native to North America but most probably was introduced via ships from Africa. It is worldwide in distribution.

Recognition

Adults are about 1 3/8-2 1/8 inches long. Color reddish brown except for a submarginal pale brown to yellowish band around edge of pronotal shield. Last segment of cercus at least two times longer than wide. Both sexes fully winged with wings of male extending beyond tip of abdomen, whereas females do not; poor to moderately good fliers.

Nymphal early instars uniformly grayish brown dorsally, paler ventrally, shiny; cercislender, distinctly tapered from base with length about times width. Later instars reddish brown with lateral and posterior margins of thorax and lateral areas of abdominal segments somewhat darker; cerci slender, distinctly tapered with length about five times greatest width, widest segments two and a half times as wide as long. Antennae uniformly brown.

Ootheca or egg capsule dark reddish to blackish brown; about 3/8 inch long, with length about one and a half times width; subdivisional furrow not extending to midwidth; weak terminal point; and usually with eight eggs on each side.

Habits

Although American cockroaches are found in residences, they are much more common in larger commercial buildings such as restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, food processing plants, hospitals, etc. where they usually infest food storage and food preparation areas, basements, and steam tunnels, During summer months, they can be found outdoors in yards and alleys. In the United States, this is the most common species found in city sewer systems.