Cockroaches are not desirable in the home.
We understand that the last thing people want to see in their living rooms is roaches crawling lazily across the floor.
Fortunately, there are many different bugs that only look like roaches.
But they are not!
Indeed, the roach that was scuttling through the kitchen might actually be one of six common bug species that are very similar to cockroaches.
But before we get into those bug details, lets check out what roaches look like.
If you want to find out what cockroaches look like let me tell you, their look will mostly depend on their species.
It may come as a surprise but there are four major indoor roaches species that reside in your homes in the United States.
Let us check out the characteristics of each species
a) German cockroach:
When you make a rough picture of a cockroach in your mind, then you are likely to think of this typical yellowish-brown bugger.
They range in size from inch to 5/8 of an inch in length.
You can identify a German roach by the two parallel bands which go from these pests heads back down to their alluring wings.
b) American cockroach:
These critters are big and glossy. They may be around 2-inches in length.
The color is of grave importance when you talk about identifying these cockroaches.
They are red-brown in color with soft amber streaks.
They have wing covers but they like to munch your food more than flying.
c) Oriental cockroach:
Because of their smooth and lustrous dark brown body, this cockroach type is also called black beetle cockroach or shad roach.
They grow around 1 inch in length.
Their color is their major distinctive spec as they are mostly almost black.
d) Brown-banded cockroach:
These house intruders are the smallest roach breed.
They are light brown in color, winged and small. They can sometimes be confused with German cockroaches.
But you can differentiate them on the basis of the two subtle haphazard lines on the wings of the brown-banded cockroaches while the German roaches feature dark lines behind their heads.
Roaches in general desire to have meals with you, bath with you enjoy during parties, and sometimes even sleep with you in your bed.
If you didnt like their aim, then you should focus on identifying the type of roach that has shown the courage to enter your house.
Once you find it out, you can take steps to free your house or office from these pathetic critters.
Ive compiled a list of bugs that could all possibly be the culprits moving about your home, to help you rule out the possibilities.
Lets check more about these mistaken ones and know how these are different from common kitchen roaches.
There are hundreds of thousands of beetle species in the world, and as such a few of them happen to look like roaches.
The June bug, for example, is squatter and wider than the average cockroach, but with a quick glance, they can look immensely similar.
And the June bug (also called June beetle and May beetle) isnt even the only beetle species that looks like a cockroach.
It is one of many that can make the job of knowing what-is-what really difficult.
The Basic Differences
Cockroaches do not have wing cases, and beetles do.
This is one of the first things to look for when you see a bug in your home.
A beetle will often not have exposed wings. They tuck them neatly into their bodies, under their external skeleton.
Cockroaches are just the opposite, leaving their wings resting outside of their bodies.
Then, of course, there are the more obvious attributes. Cockroaches have longer legs and antennae than beetles.
As said earlier, beetles are squatter and wider where cockroaches are longer.
When in doubt, if the bug is long and skinny, it might be a cockroach.
Beetle Types and Comparisons
Then there are ground beetles which are numerous. Ground beetles and oriental cockroaches look very similar.
While there are many ground beetles that are not look-alikes at all, because they have different colored exteriors, many of the dark ones look like oriental cockroaches to a large degree.
The biggest difference is that oriental roaches have larger heads.
These bugs will be found outside, underwood and rocks, or in more damp areas.
As mentioned above, yet another beetle that looks like a cockroach is the June bug.
The bug is attracted to light and feeds on plants. This is a sign that it is a beetle, not a cockroach.
Indeed, the beetle is also darker and rounder than cockroaches are.
Again, the squatter bugs are likely to be beetles. There is another thing that should be mentioned, however; beetles like to live in nature.
It is less likely that they will choose to live indoors, which is another fact that should be taken into account.
Cockroaches like the dark, and so tend to live inside more often.
Overall, it can be tricky to tell a cockroach apart from some of the different kinds of beetles.
Luckily, the typical beetle behavior is one of the giveaways.
Beetles will often be more active and spend time in wider, brighter outdoor spaces.
They are also squatter and wider. Make sure to take these things into account when you are trying to tell a roach apart from a beetle.
Water bugs, also known as toe-biters, are often thought of as many different species.
The oriental cockroach mentioned earlier, for example, is often called a water bug even though it cannot live in the water.
Real water bugs live near or in water where cockroaches prefer only damp areas.
There are many other insects that are titled water bug and there are many things that set the real water bug apart from the imposters.
It can be hard to tell what is what, so here are some things to keep in mind about water bugs and cockroaches.
A water bug differs from a cockroach in a few important ways.
First of all, despite the fact that both are relatively the same size, the water bug does not have, nor does it need antennae.
In addition, much like beetles, the water bug likes to live near light.
This leads to another key difference. Cockroaches are prone to minding their own business and inhabiting inhospitable areas.
The water bug, however, is a predator. A bite can cause severe damage due to the fact that its enzymes can disturb areas in humans.
The water bug has large pincers on the front of its body, which also help set it apart from the cockroach.
Overall, they are more active and open than cockroaches are.
Now you know the difference between a cockroach and a water bug and what to look out for.
And honestly, as annoying as cockroaches are to get rid of, at least they dont attack things like water bugs too.
In the end, if either of these things is in your home, youll want to get them out as soon as possible.
So far, the bugs on this list have been completely different from the American cockroach, and there is no reason to think anything different about the palmetto bug.
Only, the palmetto bug isnt different from the cockroach.
They are, in fact, the same thing. The palmetto bug is a species of cockroach from Florida that enjoys hiding under leaves.
The name then spread to many other kinds of cockroaches.
Largely, the palmetto bug became popular because people didnt want to admit that they had roaches in their homes.
Fortunately for them, the difference went unnoticed and to this day many people believe the palmetto bug and the common cockroach are entirely separate insects.
They arent, but the name stuck.
Because the American cockroach is the most common roach, it is the one most often called the palmetto bug.
As listed above, people also call it a water bug as well, in addition to some other nicknames, such as the southern cockroach that have stuck over the years.
It can be almost impossible to tell bed bugs apart from baby cockroaches without catching one to get a closer look.
They are both roughly the same size and color, with very few differences.
The baby cockroach is a slightly lighter color, with slightly formed stripes from its exoskeleton.
In addition, just like beetles, the bed bug is squatter and rounder than the baby cockroach.
This would be almost impossible to see unless both of the species could be compared with one another, but it is true nonetheless.
Finally, bed bugs have longer antennae than baby roaches do.
The difference in size between termites and cockroaches is not as prevalent as the difference in behavior.
The average termite, despite the fact that there are roughly forty species, likes to be in groups.
They have monarchs of their colonies, a king and queen, and gather in large groups. It is rare to find a singular termite.
This is not the case with cockroaches.
Cockroaches are not so prone to living in groups and are bigger than termites are.
In addition, termites are darker, hardened creatures.
Where termites almost look see-through, cockroaches look nearly black, except for the albino cockroach.
Another thing that separates termites from cockroaches is that they live in different areas.
Termites dont care as much about water sources or food.
They like to live secluded in walls and tight spaces, and they only take to eating wood and wood products.
Cockroaches, however, are often found in kitchens and places with food and moisture where they can easily find things to eat.
Crickets are not commonly found in the home, given that they are not suited to indoor environments.
Read more from the original source:
What House Bugs Look Like Roaches - But Aren't
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