Five Kinds of Cockroaches Troublesome in Buildings 
Name 
American cockroach !__~_ 
inches long. 
Australian cockroach ?__-_ 
Brown-banded cock- 
roach 3 (also called 
tropical cockroach). 
Description 
Reddish brown to dark 
brown. Adults 1% to 2 
Reddish brown to dark 
brown. Yellow markings on 
the thorax; yellow streaks 
at base of wing covers. 
Adults 1 inch long. 
Light brown. Mottled, red- 
dish-brown wings on female; 
lighter wings on male. 
Where found 
Develop in damp base- 
ments and sewers; 
forage mostly on first 
floors of buildings. 
Develop in warm, damp 
places, in or out of 
doors; forage mostly 
on first floors of build- 
ings. 
Develop and live all over 
the building. 
Adults % inch long. 
German cockroach 4 
(also called croton 
bug and water bug). 
kinds. 
Oriental cockroach 5 
(also called black 
beetle and shad 
roach). 
Light brown. Black stripes 
running lengthwise on 
back. Adults % inch long. 
Most common of the five 
Black or dark brown. Traces 
of wings on females; short 
wings on males. Female 
adults 1 to 14 inches long; 
Develop and live all over 
the building, particu- 
larly in kitchens and 
bathrooms. 
Develop in damp base- 
ments and sewers; 
forage mostly on first 
floors of buildings. 
male adults a little shorter. 
More sluggish than other 
four kinds. 
1 Periplaneta americana. 2 Periplaneta australasiae. 
5 Blatta orientalis. 
buildings and homes where good 
sanitation is practiced. 
The female lays her eggs in a 
leathery capsule, which she forms 
at the end of her body. The German 
cockroach carries the egg capsule 
about a month, and drops it a day 
or so before the eggs are ready to 
hatch; about 80 cockroaches hatch 
from the capsule. The other kinds 
carry the egg capsules a day or two, 
then glue them to some object in a 
protected place; about 12 cock- 
roaches hatch from each capsule 
after an incubation period of 2 to 
3 months. 
3 Supella supellectilium. 4 Blattella germanica. 
PREVENTING ENTRY 
Cockroaches may enter the house 
from outdoors, in infested contain- 
ers from other buildings, or from 
adjoining homes or apartments. To 
keep them out, fill all cracks passing 
through floors or walls, and cracks 
leading to spaces behind baseboards 
and door frames, with putty or 
plastic wood. Pay special attention 
to water and steam pipes entering 
rooms. 
Cockroaches develop in large 
numbers in dirt and filth. Thorough 
cleaning reduces the likelihood of 
heavy infestation. 
