Sand Cockroach
(11/04/2006)
Upon returning from the movies (Prestige does not get our stamp of approval) we inspected the insects that were attracted to the garage light at our Mt Washington, Los Angeles offices. We have been seeing Painted Arachnis Moths lately and they are laying eggs on the wooden siding. Tonight, to our glee, there was a Sand Cockroach in the genus Arenivaga. This winged male was attracted to the light. Most members of the Cockroach order are benign creatures that do not infest homes, and the Sand Cockroach is one of the native species that should not cause homemakers any grief. This genus is often found near sand dunes and in areas with sandy soil.

Central American Cockroach
(04/30/2006) Unknown cockroach species
Hi, Bugman!
I love your site! Fascinating and one of my most frequent references. I wish there were a Bug Guide type site for Central America because that's where I live and find my little beauties. I did send you one photo of a strange new cockroach, but haven't heard anything from you. Is this because cockroaches are just too boring (not to me!) or because you can't find a reference. Because of the transparent shield (part of the oddly shaped pronotum) over the head of the cockroad, the creature reminds me of a space man or astronaut. If you can't ID it, can you suggest some reference sites on the web? I live in an isolated area and there are no libraries or book stores or universities within at least a day's travel, so I
depend on the Internet. Thanks for any help. I'm attaching several more photos of this roach just in case the first one got lost.
Mary Thorman



Hi Mary,
Sorry to have been negligent. We can't even recall seeing your previous images, so they might be in the jumble of letters that is clogging up our in box. Sadly, we cannot recommend any good sources online for your question, nor do we recognize your species. It is difficult enough to identify "flashy" exotic species like butterflies in less traveled parts of the world. Your Cockroach is indeed fascinating. Good luck putting a name to it. Eric Eaton quickly wrote in with this information: " The cockroach is something in the Blaberinae, maybe even a Blaberus sp, but probably a related genus."

Cockroach Nymph
(04/07/2006) what is this bug?
Dear Whats That Bug:
Hello. I love your site. Considering I don't know what this little guy is I let him leave unharmed. I have seen a couple of these bugs around my bathroom they crawl under the cracks of the sink and inside the bathtub. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with their nature but they come out closer to nighttime. When I was trying to take a picture of this one he was running so fast I only got one shot and that was a lucky one, keep in mind he isn't any bigger than the fingernail on my pinky. He was crawling on the wall of the bathtub and I'm not sure if he fell or jumped but nevertheless he ended up on the inside of the bathtub. Do you know what he is??
Thank you sincerly,
Kristen J.



Hi Kristen,
We have never seen an immature Cockroach with this coloration pattern. We found a match on Bugguide that listed it only by genus Periplaneta. The submitted photos were from North Carolina.

Australian Cockroach
(02/03/2006) Should I kill myself now, or what?
Dear Bugman,
Having just moved to Florida from the north I am TERRIFIED of getting a cockroach infestation in my apartment. Having said that, I moved down here and lived in a place where I saw two German Cockroaches on separate occasions. I moved into a new place about two months ago. Your web site helped greatly. Now this series of events has happened: a) found a cockroach slightly bigger than a German Cockroach but a dark red like an American Cockroach near my patio door, and killed it, this was after I had moved some boxes and while the lights were on; b) found some roach crap near my microwave days later; and c) caught the big dark red cockroach in this photo sneaking out from under the microwave tonight. I think the Intenet helped me identify this ugly bastard as an "Australian Cockroach." Evidently they aren't as bad at infestations as Germans or Americans since they don't get nearly the same press coverage. I haven't seen any other evidence of roach activity anywhere in my apartment. Please help me if you can. What kind of cockroach is this? Do I have an infestation or just an annoying visitor or two? Can I expect a huge sack of eggs to break inside the outer walls of my microwave, unleashing a torrent of cockroaches I will never fully destroy? What should I do to prevent cockroaches from entering my home?
Floridian In Need



Dear Needy Floridian,
We agree with your identification. The Australian Cockroach, Periplaneta australasiae, is not as invasive as the German Cockroach. The pale stripes at the edge of the forewings are the distinguishing feature. According to BugGuide, they are a tropical or subtropical species that will feed on almost anything. We don't really consider ourselves to be experts at intervention, but Don't kill yourself.

Immature Wood Cockroach
(12/24/2005) What is this?
I found this crawling toward my 7 month baby...please please please tell me I don't have cockroaches!! Thanks!
Jennifer



Hi Jennifer,
The good news is that Cockroaches will not attack your baby, but this is a Cockroach. Whether or not you have Cockroaches in the plural is yet to be determined. As this is an immature Cockroach, indications are there might be siblings, however, often a solitary Roach hitches a ride home from the laundermat or grocery store and its appearance is not an indication of an infestation.

Wood Cockroach Identified: (12/26/2005)
I am an Urban Entomologist at Clemson University in South Carolina. I noticed the cockroach photo sent to you from Jennifer on 12/24/05. To me, the species in her house looks like a late instar, native wood cockroach, probably Parcoblatta lata. They are not found in grocery stores like German cockroaches. These non-pest species can be found in wooded areas and around the outside of homes. On occasion, one will wander indoors, but they do not establish indoor infestations. As you correctly pointed out, she has nothing to fear from this incidental intruder. They are actually pretty cool little woodland creatures, not nasty home dewelling pests.
Eric Benson

Unnecessary Slaughter of an American Cockroach or
Pondering the Meaning of Life!!!
(10/15/2005) Cockroaches will definetly outlive humans.
I found a large American Cockroach in my bedroom, as they tend to freak me out,  I grabbed a large knife from my dresser and sliced it alongside the upper abdomen.  Both parts continued to move.  It laid still for a moment, but when I went to pick it up, the body made a run for it. It ran about 5 feet and stopped. I picked it up again and put it on my dresser, with the head.  The head was moving it's mouth and little mandible things quickly, it looked very mad.  I took pictures of it, and a video so I could prove it was still moving.  Then I started to feel bad for it and cut it's head from it's abdomen, thinking that would surely do it in. Of course it didn't, because apparently the brain doesn't have much to do with it.  I packed it into a plastic bag, went on the internet to investigate (make sure it was really a cockroach). I found your site.  Now, I read the cockroach page, the unnecessary carnage page, and the bug love page.  I felt much worse for killing it.  Then I got up to get a soda, walking past the plastic bag I noticed the one of the cockroach's legs is still moving.  It's been at least 30 minutes now since I first killed it.  Is this normal?  I think I may have some super cockroach strain.  I know the praying mantis males compulate without their heads, but how long can an insect go without a head?
Patrick



Hi Patrick,
I'm not sure I can answer your question accurately. Death of the Cockroach is imminent. The exact moment of death in any being is definitely a hot topic worth debating, and science and religion are often at odds. Chickens run about without heads but that is usually a matter of seconds or minutes at most. I think the Cockroach accomplished quite a feat by provoking both your sorrow, your pondering and your subsequent webwearch. We believe much of what you observed was reflex reaction. Our question to you is "What is a large knife doing on your bedroom dresser?"

Update (02/06/2006)
Hey Guys!
This is just a comment for the carny page. The decapetated roach that was still moving after 30 mins is quite normal. I read once that a roach is able to live for 7 days without a head and will thus eventually die of hunger. This was proven with a test I did, my headless roach lasted 5 days. I think the 30 min roach didn't make it for that long cause of the fact that the knife took more that just the head. I'll see if I can find the articel for you again. Nways, Great Site! Love it!
Hardus Swanepoel

Mystery Roaches are Rhinoceros Cockroaches
(09/04/2005) What's this bug....please?
Hi Bugman,
We (my son) have found a heap of bugs roaming around the property. We would like to know what they are and what they are doing? They appeared after a large storm event and are just walking around everywhere. My dog also ate some. I will let you know if the dog dies :) Thanks for any info...
Regards
Anthony (and Daemon)



Hi Anthony and Daemon,
These are some species of Roach, but we didn't recognize them. We found a matching photo on BugGuide, but with no information. We wrote to Eric Eaton, and here is his response: "Depends on where they are.  If this image is from Florida, it is probably of the broad Keys roach, Hemiblabera tenebricosa.  If they smelled really bad,  then maybe they are the stinking cockroach, Eurycotis floridana, found from Mississippi to Florida and Georgia. Without examining the specimens I can't rule out other possibilities, including nymphs of other roaches, but if they were over 30 mm, then the above two possibilities are best. Eric" We wish you had included a location which is one of the things we request.

Correction (06/11/2006)
mystery roaches
The Mystery roaches on your page are most likely the heaviest roaches in the world. The photographer is almost certainly from Australia if he got these in the wild. These beauties are Macropanesthia rhinoceros, or the Rhinoceros cockroach, in the family Blaberidae. I'll send you a picture of some specimens I photographed in the LA County Museum (as well as a photo of a specimen of the longest roach Megaloblatta longipennis). These guys are monsters in real life, but live a pretty calm 10 years or more eating Eucalyptus litter.
Paul Lenhart
University of Texas at El Paso

Suicide Attacker: American Cockroach
(07/12/2005) Dear What's that Bug?
Last night, as I was preparing to bicycle over to a friend's house, I noticed that my chain had fallen off. When I bent down to reattach it to the gear ring, I noticed this little feller, quite dead, resting on my derailer cables. I enjoyed keeping him on my bike for a few miles, as bugs are the only hitchhikers a cyclist can really pick up. I was charmed to have a rider, despite his deadness. When I brought my bicycle into my friend's home, it was time for my rider to leave (not polite to bring cockroaches into a home, even if they aren't breathing), and I ripped a page from a nearby phone book and prepared a makeshift coffin. It was only later that I wondered about the connection between my chain falling off and the presence of the bug. Could there possibly be a cause and effect at work here? Was this cockroach some sort of suicide attacker, hoping my chain problem would cause me to have an incident? Can bugs be devious? Are there any cockroaches in Al Queda? Should I call Homeland Security? Please advise.
Thanks,
Another paranoid American.



Dear Paranoid American,
While I would like to assure you that this was just a random event, ask any homemaker, and you will be assured that Cockroaches are indeed devious, well-organized and capable of planning strategies. What is most disturbing about your hypothesis is that this is definitely an American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana, and not an illegal immigrant. If there is an Al Queda connection, it would be frightening to think that we may soon be on high alert against native Americans. This is way too big for What's That Bug? to handle and most assuredly a job for the leader of the Free World.

Immature Roach
(07/01/2005) YUCK!
Hi Bugman,
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is NOT a 1-inch long roach I found in the basement of my new house in North Carolina...
Nancy



Hi Nancy,
I would be lying if I said it wasn't a roach, but there is good news. It is immature and not breeding yet, and also it is not a German Cockroach, the worst infesters.

German Cockroach Infestation
(06/18/2005) Kitchen bugs
Dear Bugman,
For the last few months there have been bugs in our kitchen, they have begun increasing in numbers and are getting rather disturbing as they move very quickly. When you turn the lights on you just catch glimpses of them as they dart all the way across counters to hidden cracks in the cupboards.  We are getting frustrated with them as we are finding them even in places that we have recently cleaned and disinfected like the silverware drawer.  We were hoping you could tell us what they are and what we can do about it since there numbers are starting to increase rapidly. Attached are several pictures. Their length when full grown appears to be about 1/2" to 5/8" and their width is about 1/4". Thank you.



You have a German Cockroach Infestation.

Immature Cockroach
(06/09/2005) bug identification
As summer approaches I keep coming across these tiny guests in my apartment. Just one at a time, every now and then and I don’t seem to find any when I turn my furniture upside down. What species is it? How do I fight them?
Cheers, M



Hi M.,
Sorry to inform you that you have immature cockroaches. You must have breeders somewhere. You might want to get professional help before you have a real infestation.

Cockroach
(05/02/2005) bug indentification
I just recently move to Florida and I have found two of these insects in my apt. what is it...please email me back....I have tried to find it online and i am not having any luck...Thank you so much...
Have No Clue



You have some type of cockroach, probably immature. It is difficult to tell exactly what is going on in your photo. It appears as though the cockroach has endured some type of bodily harm.

Immature Cockroach
(02/14/2005) Help!! Bug invasion
HELP!!!
I don't know what kind of bug has invaded my home!! I saw a dead one of these in my basement a few weeks ago.. We just found another one in the upstairs bathroom yesterday..  so my husband sprayed the basment with a household bug spray   and I found this one  late that night on the wall in my livingroom.... it tried to hide behind my picture frame. Do I have a serious problem here???
Thanks,
Michelle



Hi Michelle,
The seriousness of the problem is relative. What you do have is an immature cockroach.

Immature German Cockroach
(01/22/2005) new pic of bug
hey thanks for your help i found a dead bug after spraying and got a couple of better pics of it this one is one of the little ones i had mentioned i hope these pics are better in helping you tell me what they are like i said before i have only found five now and i have sprayed three times. thanks for all your help
thank you
Amos



Hi Amos,
Your new photo definitely is of an immature cockroach. It looks to be a German Cockroach, Blattella germanica, which is an insidious pest. It is recognized by the two darker longitudinal stripes on the head shield. Better find the breeders as well or you might quickly be overrun.

Venezuelan Cockroach
(01/09/2005) Venezuelan bug.
Hi Bugman!
I'm a Brit living in Venezuela. I found you while trying to identify (unsuccessfully) a new visitor to our home. We get used to seeing all kinds of weird bugs, but after 12 years here, this is the first time I've seen a bug like this one. I guess it's some sort of cockroach by the underside, but its top shell is like some kind of armour with a translucent "helmet".



Unlike cockroaches we're used to, this one was fairly slow-moving, and "scuttled" rather than running, somewhat like a woodlouse. It wouldn't scuttle far, and then seemed to "hunker down" and wait for some aggressive movement before moving again. It doesn't have wings like the big roaches that fly in from outside, and the "shell" seems to be sticky, with debris stuck to it. My wife didn't sympathize with my curiosity, and I had to zap it with bug spray to quieten her down. She wouldn't let me keep it either, so I hope it wasn't an important bug, because it's gone to cockroach heaven now. I've attached three pictures.
Fascinating website - Congratulations. I spent an interesting couple of hours reading all your entries. Is there anything particularly interesting about the bug I've sent? I'd love to know.
Best wishes from Venezuela.
Terence Jeal



Hi Terrence,
I am not going to be able to help you with an exact species identification, but it is a species of Cockroach from the Order Blattodea. Hogue, one of our favorite experts, sums things up nicely when he writes: "Cockroaches are much maligned insects. A few pesky species ave given a bad name to the whole order of thousands of species, including more than fifty in North America. The few 'bad' cockroaches are common household pests in most warm parts of the world. By far the majority of kinds, however, are very interesting 'wild' cockroaches that inhabit caves, burrow in sand dunes, live in ant nests, or exhibit other unusual life histories. Cockroaches are also not all drably colored like the familiar household varieties. Many tropical species sport yellow, red, green, and othe colors on their bodies and wings and are quiet beautiful." Thanks for sending in the photos of a very interesting looking cockroach.

Palmetto Bug
(11/09/2004) huge bug
Hi
im not sure if we have a palmetto bug or what but here's a pic just cought it half an hour ago clawing it's way near the entrance door big spooky thing, never seen anything like it
Lubo



Hi Lubo,
It is definitely a roach, possibly a Palmetto Bug or an American Cockroach. Palmetto Bugs live in the deep south, Florida especially. They can fly and are larger that American Cockroaches.

Cockroach
(08/17/2004) roach??
dear bugman,
I sent you info, but no picture about these which live outside (and now some inside as of a month or so ago) our southeast michigan home.  i now have photos.  they are about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, walk around during the day (and we assume night too).  they are very light brown, but don't have any dark lines like the german roaches.  I saw one fly only once, they usually walk or run.  What are they and will they try to make a home in our house??  thanks a lot.
LN



Hi LN,
You certainly have a cockroach. I can only guess you home would be attractive to them. You are correct in guessing it does not look like a German Cockroach, but I can't help you on the species.

Oriental Cockroach Nymph
(08/12/2004) this time with photographic evidence!
Hello again, Bugman!
Still being terrorized, and still no digital camera, but I've done in our last invader and (yes, I've already been told it's gross) I scanned him (her?) so I'd have something to send (the cork is for scale). I might add to my first letter that I came across this thing as it was scrambling out of the kitchen drain - at noontime, in full sunlight!   The nerve!  I am braver in the sunlight, so I sprayed the heck out of it w/ant/roach spray
Karen



Hi Karen,
You have an immature Oriental Cockroach, also known as a Waterbug. They often inhabit drains and we are told there are millions in the sewers of Los Angeles. I often encounter large numbers of them on the sidewalks at night. In the home, they are found in the bathroom and kitchen.

Cockroach Nymph
(08/08/2004) Unknown bug?
Hello bugman -
We have these little bugs all over our house.  We usually find about 1 or 2 a day.  They are maybe about 1/4 of an inch long.  Thic picture, he is missing one of his antennas.  My 3 year old found him and brought it to me.  Any direction on what these little "buggers" are?
Thanks -
Kevin
Las Vegas, NV



Hi Kevin,
One of the few times we actually recommend professional extermination is with a Cockroach infestation. Since your roaches are all young nymphs, I can only assume they are reproducing in the house.

(06/23/2004) German Cockroach
Hope this is good enough pic for you to see.
For the love of all that is good in this world please tell me this is not a roach. Found it in a southwestern Michigan home. A reply asap would give me either peach of mind or I will need to initiate my attack plan.
Thanks in advanced.



Sorry to be the bearer of bad new, but you have a German Cockroach, Blattella germanica. It is a light brown insect about 1/2 inch long with two longitudinal black stripes on the pronotum, just behind the head. Wings extend beyond the tip of the abdomen in the adults of both sexes, so your photo is of an immature nymph. These roaches are responsible for severe infestations, so plan that attack and begin immediately.

Sorry to keep bugging you.(I had to throw that in) Do they hang around rooms with no food source? We found this one in our bedroom of all places, which I can tell you has only dust and the occasional dirty clothes pile-up. Was this guy a tag along possibly?

Cockroaches are notorious hitch-hikers, which explains their worldwide distribution. I once brought one home from the laundermat. Many times people who live in crowded apartment buildings bring a few when they do the laundry and a stray will crawl into someone's clean clothes. Occasionally, one will also turn up in a bag of groceries. So, it is entirely possible that you have a lone roach. By the way, German Cockroaches are also called Crotonbugs.

(02/10/2004) palmetto bugs
what are palmetto bugs and where did they get that name??????????

Palmetto bugs are very large, flying cockroaches.  They are found in warmer climates, like Florida, and they get their name because they are often found near palmetto trees.

is there anyway to get rid of them?

Since they live outdoors, and can fly from location to location, mass annihilation of the species is the only way to keep them out of your yard. Since this is not feasable, and since they are not really pests, just a frighteningly large annoyance, I suggest learning to ignore them.

(9/3/2003)Dear WTB,
I found myself in a debate over the Labor Day weekend as to whether or not Los Angeles' famous creepy crawlers are in fact cockroaches. My friend who grew up in New York kept referring to them as water bugs. As a life-long Southern Californian, I say la cucaracha! What do you say? Oh, and I'm refering to both the small brown ones and the big black ones. I tried to search online for a photo but I got too ooged out to continue. Oh, and is it true that the cockroackes will rule the earth long after we're gone?
signed,
curiously strong in silver lake

Dear Curiously Strong.
Cockroaches never gave up the earth. If you want to really be creeped out, just try watching the film Mimic (soon to be posted as a review on this site). Yes, those waterbugs are roaches, in fact the Oriental Cockroach, Blatta orientalis. We have a roach comparison photo on our roach page.

hi again
thanks a whole bunch for taking your time to research that bug for me. the picture and description of the bug you sent fit perfect. anyway you guys are
great and thanks again

Dear Stephanie,
All the information I have ever read agrees with the internet, that Palmetto Bugs do not bite, however, it could still have been responsible for your skin irritation. People will sensitive skin might get pricked by the spines on their legs, and this could have happened when you grabbed it, something like a contact dermatitus.  It could also have been a psychosomatic reaction to the repulsive incident.

Thanks for the response...it definitely wasn't in my head...still have the red marks. YUCK!
Thanks again,
Stefanie H.

(5/28/2003)
Are cockroaches known spreaders of disease? That is my only question, because they certainly look like they would be, truly gruesome characters what with their greasy demeanor and inquisitive antennae.
Having spent much time in South East Asia, you will be pleased to know I am sure, that I once was neighbor to a Thai girl who lived basically on a linolium floor. Thai's eat on the floor. Lunch time, she would tap her foot, and one limping fellah, I guess it was a male I did not inqiure, would limp and dash across the floor from the vicinity of the bathroom, lodge itself next to her heal, and enjoy a lite meal, hand fed. She would then later tap her heel again, and the little fella (not so little) would limp and dash back to where he came from.
I personally am not particularly fond of cockroaches. However, I am beginning to respect the intelligence of insects, as I know you do, and whether or not you publish this is up to you.
But I knew you'd love to hear the story--and it is a true story. God bless you bug guys. New website for me thanx to Yahoo. See ya again soon. (Not the cockroach, you!)
 Best regards,
frederick pavese

Dear Frederick,
Thank you for the sweet letter.
According to Hogue, "The importance of cockroaches in transmission of human diseases sems overrated, although most of the domiciliary species have been found capable of mechanically transmtting some disease organisms, especially dysentery bacteria."  The key word here is mechanical transmission, meaning the roach must walk through a disease infested area before transmitting it to a person who puts dirty fingers into the mouth.  Roaches are scavengers who help clean up dropped food, especially in the tropics where their large size prohibits huge numbers inside the home, unlike the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) which is the small, quick, light hating roach known to infest tenement slums and other high human population environments, including restaurants.  I think that Thai girl's pet sounds like a delightful companion.  

Dear Bugman,
I have found your website on the Internet and figured I would drop you a line. It is one of the biggest problems in my building (downtown Manhattan) that we have this incessant bug problem. I don't know what kind of bugs they are and/or how to kill them. They seem to be multiplying and getting bigger.
After going on a couple of websites, I believe that they are water bugs...but I can't be sure. If you have any insight into this "pain in the ass" I would much appreciate it.
Regards,
Tim Gleeson

Dear Tim,
Waterbugs are a common name for the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis. They do multiply, and often appear in large numbers. Call an exterminator.

Dear What's That Bug,

I'm excited about the prospect of high rise living. The 92nd floor is where I'd like to hang my hat. I wonder if the roaches will be able to get me up there?
Regards,
High-Minded

Dear High-Minded,
Thank you for enclosing the clipping from The New York Times about the proposed 7 South Dearborn building. The gist of the article, which is too big to print in its entirety, is that 7 South Dearborn will rise 2000 feet into the air, though that height includes the antenna. The 92nd floor will be a staggering 1,177 feet 9 inches above ground, making it the highest occupied residential floor in the world. The article also made mention of Larinioides sclopetarius, the high-rise spider, which happily spins its web in exterior window frames hundreds of feet up, counting on the glowing lights within to draw insect prey. Unfortunately, the spider living on the outside will be unable to help eradicate roaches which inevitably will find their way to your door. These crafty arthropods are wily hitch-hikers, often gaining access to your home by stowing away in a bag of groceries, the laundry basket or even a library book. Cockroaches may be foundeverywhere people are found, so get used to them. They're not going away soon.

What do cockroaches eat? Please tell me it will earn me 5 crucial points on a test for 1 of my classes. BYE BYE!!!!!!! M

Dear M:

Once again, Houge's landmark book, Insects of the Los Angeles Basin serves as a resource in compiling your answer. Cockroaches are much maligned insects. A few pesky species have given a bad name to the whole order of thousands of species, including more than fifty in North America. The all-too-common household cockroach, presumably the insect of your query, is primarily active at night. During the day they hide in dark crevices - in or behind kitchen cabinets, drawers, stoves, and refrigerators. Both young and adults are general feeders. Almost any crumb of food or other organic material left exposed around the house will serve them as a meal. For this reason, good housekeeping is the key to cockroach control. Additionally, cockroaches can digest cellulose in its original wood form or in paper products. Good luck with your crucial pionts, and try running spell check.

—Mr. Daniel Marlos

Dear American Homebody,
      The other night, I was making preparations to tuck myself into a nice warm bath as I am wont to do when...what the fuck?...I saw a cockroach sitting happily on the side of my tub! Now, normally I put nice bugs like spiders into bowls and free them outside, but this time I viciously squashed the evil intruder with toilet paper and flushed it down the toilet! Here's my quesiton: If I see one cockroach, does that mean there are more? If so, what precautions should I take? By the way, I have a puppy named Abigail (please see attached picture for reference) which means roach traps are out. She could eat them and then die and then where would I be?
      Love,
       Never Lived in New York City so Know Nothing About Cockroaches

Dear West Coast Gal,
     When it comes to roach identification, size always helps.  If it is the biggest roach you've ever seen, chances are it is an American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) which despite its name, has a worldwide distribution.  It is the local species which attracts the most attention because of its size (2 inches) but it occurs only in small numbers.  Next in size is the Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) which is shiny black or brown and averages 1 1/4 inches, though I have seen specimens nearly 1 1/2 inches in length.  This is the species known as the water bug because of its habit of living in wet areas around the toilet bowl, bath tub, water pipes and faucets.  It does not infest houses, though it is reported to be very common in sewers and is often found outdoors near the garbage. On warm summer nights large numbers can be found scuttling on the sidewalks in heavily populated areas.  I have known them to appear in bathtubs, and can only surmise that they have crawled into the house through the pipes.  The German cockroach (Blattela germanica) is the smallest.  It averages 1/2 inch and is light brown with two darker longitudinal stripes on its head.  Wary and active, it tends to reach higher population levels than other roaches.  Furthermore, it is gregarious, so that tremendously dense infestations may develop.  This is by far the most prolific local roach and the most difficult to eradicate from the household.  The bug is sly, and often hitches a ride home from the laundermat or the grocery store.  If the stowaway is a fertile female, the infestation is about to begin.  The roaches are most active at night, hiding by the day in dark crevices behind cabinets, stoves and refrigerators.  Both young and adults are general feeders, and almost any crumb or rood or other organic material will serve as a meal.  For this reason, good housekeeping is the key to cockroach control.   


In regards to roaches...
Daniel, Oh no it was the small kind!      What should I do to prevent infestation? I think perhaps they are under the house. There is a little trap door under my bathtub. My house is very clean, and I do not eat food in my bathroom. So I can't think of any other reason for it to be there. I'm also something of a neatnik so the kitchen is ALWAYS clean...
    Should I call an exterminator? Spray stuff myself? What do you think?

Dear Possibly Infested,
    At this point in time, I think wholescale extermination might be overkill.  It is possible that your roach was just an explorer who hitched a ride along with something you brought into the house.  This is very common.  You will definitely know when it is time to call an exterminator.  Your neat habits will also be very discouraging to the nasty vermin, however, roaches can still get access to food that is stored in cupboards.  That trapdoor you mentioned probably does not give roaches any easier access to your abode as the critters, especially the very young ones, have the ability to nearly flatten themselves so they can slip between the tiniest cracks between the floor and the molding.  Keep us posted.  At What's That Bug? and American Homebody, we care.
P.S.  Roaches will also eat soap.

Possibly Infested responds...
Danial, you are a national treasure. Thank you!

Dear Homebody
My husband and I live on a 47' sailboat. We bought it two years ago, and the seller lived on it in Florida. It is now in Maryland. We noticed a "palmetto" cockroach not long after we bought it and used grocery store roach control methods thinking that was working. We saturated the bilges and lockers with boric acid, RAID spray, and those little stick up things. Then last summer we discovered 2 HUGE ones living behind books on a book shelf. I was cleaning, (and I clean A LOT) and I noticed what I thought were mouse droppings. Then, expecting to see a cute furry brown mouse, I saw 2 giant disgusting roaches. My husband I then learned what the egg sacks and droppings look like. We then called a pest control company, and they fogged the whole boat, and then followed up with a granular bait. But about 6 months later, I thought I noticed droppings, but wasn't sure. Then I saw a live roach in the middle of the night. We called the pros back, and they laid another round of bait. Then, less than a month ago, I noticed another egg sack while cleaning. I wasn't 100 % sure it wasn't there before, but to be safe, I requested another fogging by the pest control folks. But, then, a week later, I saw another one ON MY BED. It was moving slowly and was easy to kill. So it may have been dying (?) After a nervous breakdown (me) we called another pest control company, a national one, and they came and inspected today. They are afraid that we still have offspring from the Florida roaches. The boat is a perfect habitat having moisture around. But, the builders of the boat put in a lining in all the lockers (closets) that could be harboring them, and there is a headliner in the main cabin that could be harboring them, and the fogging may not have penetrated either the locker lining or the headliner (like a car only vinyl). The headliner is not a simple thing to remove without tearing up a lot of the boat. They are working up a price to "tent" the boat and do a major gassing. They threw out a ball park price for a HOUSE of $15,000 to $25,000. Our boat is no where near the same cubic footage as a typical house, but I am afraid it's still going to cost more than we can comfortably afford. Have you had any experience with boats? This is a nice boat, not a trailer style house boat. How can we know if they are living in those hidden spaces? If I tear up the lining in the closets and lockers in our cabin and spray stuff in there, will I run the risk of driving them out into my bed? My BIGGEST fear is having one crawl on me while I am asleep. Do I have to drink myself to sleep? I am too paranoid to feel comfy in my own bed now.

Cindy on the water

Dear Cindy,
It is nearly impossible to put a price on comfort. I don't know how What's That Bug? can really help you since you already know what you have, and you pretty much know how to deal with it. We here at American Homebody/What's That Bug? do not advocate drinking as a sedative nor as a place to drown one's sorrows, preferring to moderately use alcohol in joyous social situations. I do have one suggestion though. Have you thought of getting a cat? Cats love to torment and dispatch moving critters. Without the ideal Florida climate, your Palmetto Bugs have a limited life expectancy in Maryland where the winters are considerably colder than in the south. That is the only reason you haven't been infested in two years. Add to that the eradication through predation (the cat) and you should soon be rid of the offensive freeloaders and once again be able to sleep peacefully, not to mention banking the extermination fee. Don't forget "Pananoia will destroy ya" because there are always things lurking in the dark that you know nothing about.

ROACH RECAP

Hi Daniel
Thank you for all your responses regarding our cockroach issues on our boat. Right before our annual 2 week cruise, an entomologist with the pest control company came down to inspect the boat. So just in case you ever get a similar question as mine, here is what she saw and said in a nutshell. She thinks the roaches we had were either American or Palmetto. She saw no evidence of any living ones (she spotted an old dead one in the bilge) but the big question mark is our headliner. She said they are lazy creatures that don't travel far if they don't have to. So they could spend a life time in the head liner and eat glue and drink condensation. but they are survivors, so that when we had the boat fogged before, they may have gone outside or hidden in our clothes until the poison wore off. Also, as you said, they may be immune to the grocery store sprays by now. She suggested tenting the boat with a plastic, draped down to the water and have the boat gassed. Also she suggested removing all the clothing, and open up as much of the headliner as possible. Then they will come back to bait, and then treat once a month for a year, so if any eggs remain and hatch, they will be grow up sterile and won't produce egg sacks. Because the boat has SO many possibilities for hidden spaces, she thinks this is the way to go. And, we probably had offspring from the original Florida roaches from before we bought the boat. The good news is the cost is no where even close to what I feared and this will also control other pests as well. There was a time before the first fogging that I spotted multiple egg sacks once I new what they looked like. So there could have been more completely out of sight. Since we live aboard, the boat is warm and toasty all winter, so we can't rely on the weather doing them in. Anyway, thanks for your input. I've learned a lot about these creatures, but just because I've become a blooming pseudo expert, it doesn't mean I am going to make peace with them (I did have an interesting experience once with carpenter bees that ended in me naming them and trying to get a good photo)
Cindy

Hi,
     I almost had a heart attack last week as I saw the biggest bug I have ever seen! I work as a therapist in an upstate New York School. My office is in the basement. As I rounded the corner to answer the phone, something huge was slowly crawling across the doorway on the floor. It was blackish grey, about 4 inches long with a flattish body. The head looked as large as my thumbnail. It appeared to have short spikey hairs on its body, and 6 legs protruding from its middle segment. The abdomen was very large and trailed behind the legs. I didn't notice any antennae, but it may have had pincers on the mouth. Thank God for a brave custodial worker!!! Later in the day, another co-worker said that he collected those bugs for trout bait, and that they sprout wings and fly around. Please! That was the stuff of nightmares!!!!!!!! I swear that I have seen miniscule versions of this bug in my own yard and want to know if they are the same. Could I have these prehistoric monsters flying in my back yard???!!!
—Deb

Dear Deb,
     Scale operates in a funny way. When size is desirable, things are never big enough. When size is the cause of alarm or concern, things always appear larger than they really are. In fishing, an activity you noted in your letter, the biggest ones always get away. Based on your description, including the basement location of the alleged sighting, I would conclude that the specimen which nearly caused your coronary arrest is a cockroach. They have flattened bodies, relatively large heads and short spikey hairs on their bodies.
    
 The likliest candidate in our cockroach lineup is the American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana, which despite its name has a worldwide distribution. Hogue says that "this is the species that Angelenos are referring to when they brag about some huge roach of record breaking size that they have seen on their premises. This cockroach seems to inspire more exaggeration than any other; in spite of what anyone says, however, adult American Cockroaches in our area rarely exceed 2 inches in length from the front of the head shield to the wing tips. ( In Florida there is a much larger cockroach, known as the Palmetto cockroach, Blaberus craniifer, which measures up to 3 inches in length.)"
    Cockroaches spend 75% of their time squeezed into narrow cracks and crevices
for safety. The most preferred harborages are those of the proper size that are located near food and water sources, and which are warm and have a high relative humidity.
P. americana is found in many different habitats. Although they generally live in moist areas, they can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. They prefer warm temperatures around 84 degrees Fahrenheit and do not tolerate cold. They die at temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. These criteria are often met in large commercial buildings such as restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, food processing plants, hospitals, SCHOOLS, etc., where cockroaches may infest food-storage and food-preparation areas, basements, and steam tunnels. They are also found, although not as commonly, in residences. During the summer months, they can be found outdoors in yards and alleys. In the United States this is the most common species found in city sewer systems. They can enter structures by being brought in, coming up from the sewer system via drains, or occasional mass migration from other structures, dumps, etc., during warm weather.

(April 7, 2003)Dear Bugman,
I have found your website on the Internet and figured I would drop you a line. It is one of the biggest problems in my building (downtown Manhattan) that we have this incessant bug problem. I don't know what kind of bugs they are and/or how to kill them. They seem to be multiplying and getting bigger.
After going on a couple of websites, I believe that they are water bugs...but I can't be sure. If you have any insight into this "pain in the ass" I would much appreciate it.
Regards,
Tim Gleeson

Dear Tim,
Waterbugs are a common name for the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis. They do multiply, and often appear in large numbers. Call an exterminator.