American Roaches

American Roaches are the largest of the house-infesting cockroaches and are strong flyers.

Pest Description:

• Color: Reddish-brown with a dirty-yellow outline around two dark spots behind the head.
• Legs: 6
• Shape: Oval
• Size: 1 1/3 - 2 1/8"
• Antennae: Yes
• Region: Throughout the world.
• Habits: American roaches frequently enter homes and buildings through drains, pipes and sewer lines but may be brought into buildings via storage boxes or equipment.
• Habitat: American roaches are common pests in apartment buildings, grocery stores, restaurants and hospitals but less frequently in homes. These large roaches prefer warm, damp locations like crawl spaces, steam tunnels, boiler rooms, and sewers. American roaches also like basements, yards and materials stored outdoors.
• Threats: American roaches transfer bacteria and other human pathogens as they move through sewage or decaying organic debris then onto food surfaces. People with allergies are at risk since medical studies have recently shown that cockroach allergens cause allergies and can bring on asthma attacks, particularly in young children.