American Cockroach
(Periplaneta americana)
The largest common cockroach species, often called a "palmetto bug," found in basements and sewer systems.
Overview
American cockroaches are the largest of the common cockroach species found in homes. Despite their name, they actually originated from Africa and the Middle East. In Bowling Green, they are frequently found in basements, crawl spaces, storm drains, and similar moist areas. They prefer warm, moist environments and often enter homes through sewer connections, utility openings, and garage doors. While less prolific than German cockroaches, their large size and ability to fly make them especially alarming to homeowners.
Appearance
American cockroaches are large, ranging from 1-1/4 to over 2 inches in length. They are reddish-brown with a distinctive lighter yellowish figure-8 or shield-shaped marking on the back of their head (pronotum). Both males and females have fully developed wings and are capable of short flights, especially in warm weather. Nymphs are wingless and uniformly reddish-brown.
Habitat
American cockroaches prefer warm, moist, dark environments. Outdoors, they thrive in storm drains, sewer systems, mulch beds, and tree holes. Indoors, they are most common in basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms, and around floor drains. They often enter through sewer pipes and can travel through plumbing systems. Commercial kitchens, restaurants, and food processing facilities are also common habitats.
Diet
American cockroaches are opportunistic omnivores. They feed on a wide range of organic matter including decaying plant material, food scraps, pet food, book bindings, leather, hair, and fermenting liquids such as beer. In sewer environments, they feed on organic waste.
Lifecycle
Females produce dark reddish-brown egg capsules, each containing about 16 eggs. Capsules are deposited in sheltered areas and glued in place. Nymphs take 6 to 12 months to mature, going through 13 molts. Adults live for approximately 1 to 1.5 years. A female can produce about 150 offspring in her lifetime.
Signs of Infestation
- !Large, reddish-brown cockroaches seen in basements, garages, or near drains
- !Dark, cylindrical droppings (often mistaken for mouse droppings) in basements and crawl spaces
- !A strong, musty odor in infested areas
- !Dark reddish-brown egg capsules glued to surfaces near food and water
- !Cockroaches flying toward lights on warm summer evenings
Prevention Tips
- ✓Seal gaps around sewer pipes, utility lines, and floor drains
- ✓Install tight-fitting floor drain covers and screens
- ✓Reduce moisture in basements and crawl spaces with dehumidifiers
- ✓Store recyclables in sealed bins and remove promptly
- ✓Keep garage doors closed, especially at night
- ✓Remove leaf litter and mulch from against the foundation
Professional Treatment
Professional treatment for American cockroaches includes applying perimeter barrier treatments, treating sewer access points and floor drains, placing granular baits in crawl spaces and basements, and sealing entry points. Because they often originate from municipal sewer systems, ongoing quarterly perimeter treatments provide the best long-term results.
Did You Know?
- •American cockroaches can run up to 3 miles per hour — one of the fastest insects relative to body size.
- •They can live for up to a week without their head.
- •Fossil records show cockroaches have been around for over 300 million years.
- •They can survive being submerged in water for over 30 minutes.
1-1/4 to 2-1/8 inches
Reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-8 pattern on the head
6
Oval, flat, large
Palmetto bug, Water bug, Flying cockroach
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Other Cockroaches in Our Library
German Cockroach
The most common indoor cockroach species, found in kitchens and bathrooms where they multiply rapidly.
Oriental Cockroach
Dark, shiny cockroaches strongly associated with moisture, often found in basements and drains.
Smoky Brown Cockroach
Large, strong-flying cockroaches attracted to lights that commonly invade homes from tree canopies.