Nov 20, 2020 | Pest Control
One of the lesser known species of cockroaches, the oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), also known as the black beetle cockroach and the waterbug, is actually one of the largest next to its cousin, the American cockroach. These pests are great at hiding and fitting into tight locations and have adapted to thrive both indoors and outdoors. Let’s take a look at how to identify Oriental cockroaches, as well as some cockroach prevention tips.
Appearance
The Oriental cockroach is dark brown to nearly black in color with a smooth shiny exoskeleton. Although not quite as big as American cockroaches, these bugs do get up to 1 inch in length. Males are slightly shorter than females with stubbed wings and females are longer and skinnier without wings.
Habitat
These roaches are found throughout the United States and prefer warm, moist, dark locations. They thrive outdoors, often residing under piles of leaves, mulch, stone, wood, flower beds, and debris. They will travel through sewers and can come into your home through pipes and drains. Indoors, they can be found in rarely used sink drains, garbage disposals, under cabinets with plumbing, and in bathroom voids.
Diet
Oriental roaches are omnivores, eating nearly any type of food source but preferring decaying plants and rotting garbage. They will also make do with crumbs, pet food, and leftover human food, too. They are very dependent on water which is why they are usually found in areas with high moisture. They can survive up to 1 month with no food but only 2 weeks without water.
Behavior
These cockroaches are slower than most of their counterparts. They prefer to be active outdoors and are nocturnal. Males have wings but don’t fly. They have a lifespan of 1 to 6 months and their reproduction is seasonal – they produce more eggs in the spring and summer than they do the rest of the year.
Threats
Oriental cockroaches are dangerous to humans as they are known to transmit bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Because they eat decaying food and other material, they can contaminate food and other surfaces with the pathogens picked up from their food sources. They also excrete odors which can trigger allergies and asthma in those affected.
Signs
There are 3 main signs of Oriental cockroaches in your home:
- Seeing actual live bugs.
- Finding egg cases around your home.
- A wet, musty smell that gets stronger with larger cockroach infestations.
Prevention
- Keep your home clean and sanitized, especially areas with water (around drains, pipes, bathrooms, and basements)
- Seal doorways with weatherstripping
- Seal holes and cracks in foundations
- Vacuum often
- Use a dehumidifier to prevent moisture buildup
- Keep gutters clear or install gutter guards
- Divert water away from foundations with properly functioning downspouts, gutters, and splash blocks
If you have a problem with cockroaches of any kind, contact a professional pest control company for proper identification, potential points of entry, and the most up to date treatment options available.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Wildlife on the Move!
When Is Snake Season?
Kudzu Bugs vs. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: What’s the Difference?
Is That Spider Poisonous?
Are Termites Active In Fall and Winter?
Apr 30, 2020 | Pest Control
When cockroaches are spotted in your home several questions may run through your mind. The first one is most likely “Oh no,what do I do?” followed closely by “How do I get rid of them?” Once you get over the shock of having one scurry across your floor or countertop, several more questions may come to mind.
What attracts cockroaches? Cockroaches aren’t just attracted to dirty or cluttered houses. Roaches will come indoors in search of 4 things – food, water, heat, and shelter. While dirty or cluttered houses can provide an ample supply of food and shelter, clean houses can provide many of these necessities for roaches, as well. Appliances offer a source of heat so roaches are often found under or behind them. Leaky faucets or pipes can provide a water supply no matter how clean your home is.
Are cockroaches dangerous? The answer to this is a resounding yes. Cockroaches are known to carry bacteria that can cause illnesses in humans, such as salmonella, when it is deposited on your food or food prep surfaces. Roach excrement, shed body parts, eggs, and even saliva have been proven to trigger allergic reactions and asthma in affected people.
What do cockroaches look like? You may wonder why this is important. After all, a cockroach is a cockroach, right? Different species of cockroaches have different habits and require different treatments to completely eliminate a roach infestation from your home. While there are many different species of cockroaches worldwide, there are a few that are common to Georgia. Here’s how to identify each of them to help ensure you get the proper treatment.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach is the largest and most common cockroach found in homes in Georgia. These roaches are a chestnut to light brown color with light yellow bands around the shield behind their heads. They are large with adults approximately 2 inches in length. Male and female American cockroaches have wings and they are capable of flying short distances. This species can live up to 2 years. They are active at night and are often found around water sources like pipes, sewers, and basements. They are also commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. They often cohabitate with smokybrown and Oriental cockroaches.
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is another easily recognizable cockroach in Georgia. These roaches are tan with dark brown parallel stripes on the back of their upper thorax. They are smaller than their American counterparts with adults measuring about 1/2″ to 5/8″. German roaches can live up to 12 months. This species is also active at night and are often found in kitchens near food and heat supplies from appliances. They also produce more eggs than any other species.
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental cockroach is another common species in Georgia. They are glossy with cherry to black coloring. They are large with adults measuring 1 to 1.25 inches in length. Males have short wings but females are wingless. These roaches can live up to 6 months. Although they often cohabitate with American cockroaches, they are not usually found indoors. Instead they are found outdoors where they feed primarily on decaying matter. They are active at night and have habits similar to their smokybrown cousins.
Asian Cockroach
The Asian cockroach is tan with double parallel strips on their backs. They are often mistaken for German cockroaches. They are a smaller species with adults measuring 1/2″ to 5/8″. These roaches are also found outdoors usually under mulch, leaf litter, or high grass. They usually only come indoors when their outdoor habitat is disturbed. These roaches can fly and are attracted to light.
Smokybrown Cockroach
The smokybrown cockroach is dark cherry or red in color. They are large with adults around 1.5 inches in length. They prefer habitats in Southern neighborhoods with mature hardwood trees because they require high humidity and protection from the wind in their shelter. They can often be found in tree holes, attics, crawlspaces, and sheds. They are active at night.
Although you can take some preventative measures to keep roaches out of your home like tidying up, keeping kitchens and bathrooms clean, fixing leaks, and sealing cracks and crevices, they are resilient pests and can often be difficult to eliminate. Contact a professional pest control company who can help properly identify the type of roach(es) you are dealing with, locate points of entry and food and water sources, and effectively and safely eliminate them from in and around your home.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Crane Flies – Are Those Giant Mosquitoes?!
Digger Bee Mounds vs Fire Ant Mounds
5 DIY Ways to Keep Birds Away
Which Season is Worst for Bed Bugs?
Venomous vs Poisonous Spiders – What’s the Difference?
Mar 27, 2020 | Pest Control
By Anna V., Editorial Lead — Pest Education · Last updated: April 2026
If you’ve spotted a small, light-brown cockroach with two distinct dark stripes across its wings (and you didn’t find it in the kitchen), you’re probably looking at a brown banded cockroach. They’re one of the trickiest cockroach species we deal with at Northwest, not because they’re harder to kill, but because they nest in places homeowners rarely check. Most homeowners spend weeks treating the kitchen for German cockroaches before realizing the brown bandeds in their bedroom or living room are a different species needing a different approach.
Here’s how to identify a brown banded cockroach, what an infestation actually looks like, and the removal and prevention plan that works in Georgia and Alabama homes.
The two horizontal bands across the wings are the easiest way to ID a brown banded cockroach.
What Is a Brown Banded Cockroach?
The brown banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) is one of three cockroach species commonly found indoors in Southeast homes, alongside the German cockroach and the American cockroach (the “palmetto bug”). It’s the smallest and most distinctively marked of the three.
Appearance
Adults are roughly half an inch long, light brown to tan, with two clear dark bands running across the back. Males have full wings that extend past their body and can fly short distances. Females have shorter wings and don’t fly. Nymphs are smaller and darker than adults but still show the banding pattern faintly.
If you flip a brown banded cockroach over and look at the underside, the bands are visible there too, which is useful for confirming the species when the wing markings are hard to see.
Behavior — and Why They’re Different from German Roaches
This is the part that surprises homeowners. Brown banded cockroaches don’t behave like German cockroaches. The biggest differences:
- They prefer warm, dry areas. German roaches need humidity and stay near water sources (kitchens, bathrooms). Brown bandeds avoid moisture and prefer rooms that stay 80°F or warmer.
- They nest away from food. Inside televisions, behind picture frames, in furniture upholstery, in light fixtures, in closets, and behind wall clocks. Anywhere warm and undisturbed.
- They spread vertically through a home. Brown bandeds tend to nest higher in rooms (upper cabinets, ceiling-mounted fixtures, the top shelf of a closet) more often than other species.
- They’re often found in bedrooms and living rooms, not just kitchens.
This is why brown banded infestations get missed. Homeowners search the kitchen, find nothing, and conclude they don’t have a roach problem, while a population is quietly growing inside a TV cabinet two rooms away.
Brown Banded Cockroach vs. Other Species
| Feature |
Brown Banded |
German |
American (Palmetto Bug) |
| Adult size |
~½ inch |
~½ inch |
1.5 to 2 inches |
| Color |
Light brown / tan with two dark bands |
Light brown with two parallel dark stripes on the back |
Reddish-brown |
| Habitat |
Warm, dry rooms (bedrooms, living rooms, closets, electronics) |
Warm, humid spaces (kitchens, bathrooms) |
Outdoor harborages, comes inside in heat or rain |
| Reproduction |
~14 eggs per case, ~14 cases per female |
~40 eggs per case, fastest reproduction of the three |
~16 eggs per case |
| Flight |
Males can fly short distances |
Don’t fly |
Can fly short distances when warm |
If you’re not sure which species you’re seeing, the UGA Extension Bulletin B 1412 has detailed identification guidance for all the household cockroaches commonly found in Southeastern neighborhoods. For the broader signs of an active infestation regardless of species, see our guide on whether one cockroach means a roach infestation.
Signs of a Brown Banded Cockroach Infestation
Because brown bandeds nest away from kitchens, the signs show up in unexpected places. What to look for:
Droppings in High Spots
Tiny dark specks (similar to coffee grounds or black pepper) accumulating on the tops of bookshelves, inside light fixtures, behind picture frames, or on the upper shelf of a closet. Brown banded droppings often appear higher in a room than other species’ droppings.
Egg Cases (Oothecae)
Small, brown, pill-shaped capsules. Females often glue them to undersides of furniture, the back of a TV, the inside of an appliance housing, or into the seams of upholstered furniture. Each case holds about 14 eggs and hatches in roughly 50 to 75 days.
Damage to Paper, Cardboard, and Glue
Brown bandeds gnaw on paper, cardboard, postage stamp glue, and book bindings. Damaged storage boxes in a closet or chewed paper in a desk drawer can be a sign, especially if there’s no obvious moisture issue (which would suggest German roaches instead).
Live Sightings in Unusual Rooms
If you’re seeing cockroaches in bedrooms, living rooms, or home offices rather than the kitchen, the species is almost certainly brown banded. They prefer the same temperature range humans do, which is why they end up in living spaces.
(Found droppings or egg cases somewhere unusual? Request a free Northwest inspection and we’ll identify the species and locate the nesting site.)
How to Get Rid of Brown Banded Cockroaches
Because brown bandeds nest in dry, dispersed locations rather than concentrated kitchen harborages, the treatment approach is different from a typical German cockroach plan.
Step 1: Find the Nesting Sites
Inspect upper-room locations: top shelves of closets, behind picture frames, inside electronics housings (TVs, computers, gaming consoles), inside light fixtures, behind wall clocks, in the seams of upholstered furniture, in dresser drawers, and behind loose wallpaper. Brown bandeds also like the void spaces inside hollow-core doors.
Step 2: Place Targeted Baits
Brown bandeds respond well to gel bait, but placement matters. Standard kitchen-focused bait placement misses them entirely. Effective placements:
- Behind televisions and computer monitors
- Inside the empty space behind dressers and bookshelves
- On the top shelf of closets (where they often nest)
- Inside the recessed corners of light fixtures (with caution near hot bulbs)
- Underneath upholstered furniture
Step 3: Use Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)
IGRs interrupt the molting cycle so nymphs can’t reach adulthood. Combined with bait, this is what breaks the egg-laying cycle. Most over-the-counter products don’t include effective IGRs at the right concentrations. That’s one of the bigger advantages of professional treatment for brown bandeds specifically.
Step 4: Reduce Hiding Spots
Cut clutter in the rooms where you found droppings. Move stored items off the floor and out of sealed cardboard boxes. Vacuum the seams of upholstered furniture. Empty closets and inspect the high shelves. Brown bandeds need stable, undisturbed locations, and disturbance forces them out of preferred harborages and into bait pickup.
What Not to Do
Skip the over-the-counter bug bombs and broad-spectrum repellent sprays. They scatter brown bandeds deeper into wall voids and across the home, which spreads the infestation rather than controlling it. This is a common and expensive mistake we see homeowners make before calling.
Preventing Future Brown Banded Cockroach Infestations
Once an active infestation is cleared, prevention focuses on the conditions brown bandeds need: warm, dry, undisturbed harborages.
- Cut clutter in bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices. Especially cardboard storage. Plastic bins are far less attractive.
- Inspect new furniture before bringing it inside, especially used or thrifted upholstered pieces. Brown bandeds frequently hitchhike in furniture seams.
- Check electronics being moved into the home (used TVs, secondhand computers, hand-me-down kitchen appliances).
- Vacuum baseboards and upholstery seams regularly in living spaces, not just the kitchen.
- Maintain quarterly pest control for ongoing prevention. Brown banded populations rebound from any survivors faster than annual treatment can keep up.
When to Call Northwest for Brown Banded Cockroach Control
Brown banded infestations are one of the species we strongly recommend professional treatment for, and not because they’re particularly dangerous. They’re not aggressive, they don’t bite, and the health risks are similar to other roach species: allergens, asthma triggers, food contamination. (See what really attracts cockroaches into clean homes for more on the health-risk side.) The reason for professional involvement is location: nesting sites are dispersed across multiple rooms, often in places homeowners can’t access (inside electronics, sealed wall voids), and DIY bait placement misses too many of them. We’ve seen brown banded infestations stretch six months of unsuccessful homeowner treatment before a one-month professional plan clears them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Banded Cockroaches
How do I identify a brown banded cockroach?
Look for a small (about half-inch), light brown to tan cockroach with two distinct dark bands running across the wings. The bands are visible from above and below. Adult males have full wings that extend past the body; females have shorter wings.
Are brown banded cockroaches dangerous?
They don’t bite or sting, but like all cockroaches they can contaminate food, spread bacteria across surfaces, and trigger asthma and allergy symptoms through droppings, shed skins, and saliva. Children and people with respiratory conditions are most at risk.
Where do brown banded cockroaches hide?
Unlike kitchen-bound German cockroaches, brown bandeds prefer warm, dry rooms. Common hiding spots include inside electronics, behind picture frames, in light fixtures, on the upper shelves of closets, inside furniture upholstery, and behind hollow-core doors. They often nest higher in a room than other species.
Can I get rid of brown banded cockroaches without chemicals?
Small early infestations can sometimes be cleared with thorough vacuuming, clutter reduction, and sealing entry points. Larger or established infestations almost always require targeted gel bait and an insect growth regulator to break the breeding cycle. Pure-natural approaches rarely succeed against an active brown banded population.
How long does it take to eliminate a brown banded cockroach infestation?
A small early-stage infestation can clear in two to four weeks with targeted bait. Heavy or long-standing infestations typically require two to three months of monthly treatments to break the egg-laying cycle completely. Brown banded oothecae take 50 to 75 days to hatch, so successful treatment must outlast at least one egg-hatching cycle.
Brown banded nests live in places homeowners never think to check. That’s why DIY often misses them.
Schedule a Brown Banded Cockroach Inspection
If you’ve found cockroaches in places that don’t match the typical “kitchen problem” pattern, it’s worth a professional look. Brown bandeds are tricky to find but very treatable once located. Our team has been clearing brown banded infestations out of Georgia and Alabama homes for decades.
About the Author
Anna V., Editorial Lead — Pest Education leads pest education content for Northwest Exterminating, working with senior technicians and service center managers across our Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina service areas to translate field expertise into homeowner-friendly guides. The focus: accurate, regionally-specific answers to the pest questions Southeast homeowners are actually searching for.
Mar 25, 2020 | DIY, DIY Pest Control, Pest Control
As Springtime approaches, allergies are bound to follow. Many tend to blame the plant pollens for their sneezing and watery eyes. Although pollen can trigger your allergy symptoms, there could be another reason why your allergies are flaring up this Spring: Cockroach allergies.
Signs and Symptoms of a Roach Allergy
Cockroaches might not be the first reason you think of when you start to get allergies, surprisingly though, they can be the cause of your allergies and asthma. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology the saliva, feces, and shedding parts of cockroaches can trigger both asthma and allergies, acting like dust mites. The common symptoms of cockroach allergies can be coughing, sneezing, asthma attacks, nasal congestion, sinus and/or ear infection, itchy red or watery eyes, and skin rashes.
Preventing Roaches from Inside the Home:
In a survey conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the allergists surveyed believed that a pest-free home is the most important factor in preventing asthma and allergy systems.
Knowing what attracts roaches can help you prevent a roach infestations. Here are some preventative tips to keep roaches out of your home:
- Cover all trash cans
- Store foods in airtight containers
- Sweep up or vacuum all food crumbs
- Seal cracks in walls and floors
- Keep your yard neat and tidy
- Call a pest control professional
Cockroaches can be one of the most difficult pests to eliminate. If you find yourself using the tips above but are still seeing roaches in your house, contact a pest control company. An exterminator will be able to identify where and how the roaches are entering your home and eliminate them to protect you and your family’s health.
Jun 26, 2019 | Pest Control
Cockroaches carry many diseases and can cause several health issues in humans including food poisoning and can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. So where do roaches come from?
If you have a roach infestation in your home, there could be several reasons why. Roaches may have already been in your home before you moved in. Roaches are also very good hitchhikers and are easily transported from one place to another. They can get into your home in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, luggage, furniture, or appliances. They can also get in through the plumbing, sewers or drains. They can travel over from your neighbor’s home into yours, too.
But what attracts cockroaches if your house is clean? Like most pests, roaches are looking for three main things: food, shelter, and water. They are year-round pests and are incredibly resilient – making them difficult to control. Different species of cockroaches are attracted to and thrive in different environments.
German cockroaches are the most common indoor roaches. They prefer dark, warm, humid places near food and water, preferably in a temperature range of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can usually find German roaches in kitchens, in cracks and crevices of cabinets, near sinks or appliances, and in food prep and storage areas. They can also be found in bathrooms when the roach infestation is heavy. Early detection and control of german roaches is extremely important as they can be very hard to get rid of.
Oriental roaches prefer dark, damp, cool habitats. Outdoors you can usually find them where there is an abundant supply of organic matter like mulch or wood chips, under patio bricks, or between the soil and your foundation. Once inside your home, they are often found in drains, basements, and crawlspaces. They can also be found near leaky water pipes, under sinks, refrigerators, floors, and washing machines.
Brown-banded roaches prefer warmer, drier places (greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit). They live in higher areas, usually at eye level or above, like your cabinets, pantries, closet shelves, behind pictures, in books, or under kitchen tables and chairs. They can also be found in warm areas such as near clocks, timers, TVs, and refrigerator motors.
American cockroaches are found in homes, restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores – anywhere food is prepped and stored. They prefer warm, moist environments and can often be found in boiler rooms, basements, around pipes and water heaters, and in drains and sewers.
Here are some tips to prevent roaches from infesting your home:
Food
Clean up spilled crumbs and food immediately. Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight. Throw away any food that is left out on the counter. Wipe down the surface of all food prep areas every night. Clean under your appliances and wipe down any that are on your counter. Make sure to clean underneath the refrigerator and stove, also. Rinse out milk jugs, juice cartons, and cans before throwing them away. Empty your garbage can every night and use garbage cans with tight fitting lids. Check kitchen drawers for any food debris and crumbs. Store food in airtight containers. Store pet food in airtight containers and elevate them off the floor. Don’t leave your pet’s food and water bowls out overnight. Roaches communicate through chemical pheromones they secrete as they move. Cardboard and paper are excellent absorbers of these pheromones. Replace cardboard boxes with plastic containers if possible. Don’t bring any cardboard boxes used for storage inside the home. Don’t store piles of newspapers – recycle them instead.
Shelter
Carefully inspect the interior and exterior of your home. Seal any gaps or crevices you find, even the smallest ones. Roaches can squeeze through the tiniest openings to get into your home. Use weatherstripping around all entryways including doors and windows. Declutter as much as possible. Roaches can also get into your home through drainpipes. Use stoppers or metal baskets on all the drains in your sink and shower and make sure to keep your drains clean. Roaches will also hitch rides on firewood. Make sure to only bring in enough wood for one fire and don’t store any extra wood inside.
Water
Most species of roaches prefer moist areas so eliminating water is key to helping prevent them. Remove any standing water in and around your home. Check for leaks and repair them promptly. Use caulk to seal gaps around your sink and tubs to keep water out of the walls. Don’t let water stand for long periods of time in plants and flowerbeds. Don’t leave your pet’s water bowls out overnight. Hang any wet towels and mats up to dry after using them. Keep your kitchen sponges dry and don’t store them on the counter.
Call The Professionals
Roaches can be incredibly difficult to control and eliminate. If you have a roach problem, contact a professional pest control company or schedule a free pest inspection now. A pest control technician can thoroughly inspect your home to identify not only where and how roaches are getting into your home, but also the specific type of roaches to better treat and eliminate them.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Why Are There so Many Millipedes in my House?
Is Your Hotel on the Bed Bug Registry?
Lawn Survival Tips for the Summer Heat
What Attracts Cockroaches to a Clean House?
Is Termite Protection Worth It?
