American Cockroach

American Cockroach
Info Sheet
FAST FACTS

Cockroaches have been around for over 200 million years, since the time of dinosaurs!
A cockroach can live almost a month without food.
A cockroach canlive about two weeks without water.
A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head!
Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes!
Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour.Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life!

General Information
The American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in houses. Females can hatch up to 150
offspring peryear. Cockroaches don’t get their wings until the become adults.
American cockroaches are also known as “waterbugs” because they are so commonly found near rich
water resources, like puddles and waterpipes. American cockroaches are nocturnal. They rest by day
and forage for food at night.

Size
Shape
Color

Legs

2”

Common Name

Oval
Reddish brown,
with a yellowish
figure eightpattern on the
back of their head
6

Wings

Yes

Antenna

Kingdom
Phylum

American
Cockroach
Animalia
Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Dictyoptera

Family

Yes

GenusSpecies

Blattidae
Periplaneta
americana

Diet
American cockroaches will eat just about anything, including plants and other insects.
Habitat
American cockroaches live in warm, dark, wetplaces, because they need to be near water. They are
often found in sewers and basements, around pipes and drains.
Impact
Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking inlots of bacteria and
germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts
can also trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially inchildren.
Prevention
* Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.
* If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they
can...