American Cockroach
Periplaneta americana
American cockroaches are large, reddish-brown roaches that sometimes enter homes from outdoors. Infestations usually mean there’s a leak or a plumbing problem inside your home.
About this species
American cockroaches prefer warm, damp areas like:
- Sewers and drains
- Basements
- Boiler rooms
- Around plumbing
They often enter homes by traveling through sewer pipes and drains. If you have American cockroaches, check for plumbing problems and dry P-traps in unused drains. Adults can fly short distances when it’s hot (above 85°F).
Image by Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Identification
Size:
1½–2 inches (38–51 mm)
Color:
Deep reddish-brown, with a pale yellow border on their head
Image by Gary Alpert, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key ID Features:
- A yellowish figure-8 or pale border (pronotum halo) behind the head
- Wings extend past the abdomen in both sexes
Photos
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