| Cockroaches | Cockroaches | Cockroaches are flat insects that are found in a variety of colors. There are four common pest species: The German cockroach, the American cockroach, the brownbanded cockroach, and the Oriental cockroach. The German cockroach is most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest. Adult German cockroaches are 1/2 inch long, pale brown and have two dark brown lengthwise stripes on the shield behind the head. The American cockroach is reddish-brown to brown and is the largest of the cockroaches found in Washington, with adults reaching 1 1/2 inches long. The brownbanded roach is 1/2 to 5/8 inch long and is reddish-brown to dark brown with lighter bands across the wings. The Oriental roach is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, dark brown to black and has shorter wings. Cockroaches eat or contaminate human food and leave a persistent objectionable odor in infested areas. They are capable of mechanically transmitting disease and can cause allergic reactions. By nature cockroaches are nocturnal, so if you see any during the day it means the infestation is large. |
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