Name: American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)

Traits and Appearance: They are the largest of the species that are commonly found in New Jersey, averaging 2 inches in length. Reddish brown in color, with wings the same length as their body.

Habits and Habitat: They prefer areas that are warm and damp, and are often found in sewer pipes and basements. They thrive in temperatures between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. American cockroaches are the least evasive of the common species, often seen during the day. They are the only species common in New Jersey that can fly, although this is generally a rare occurrence.

Diet: Scavenger diet. Can feed on almost anything, especially when food source is limited. Needs water to survive. Prefers decaying material.

Reproduction: Female American cockroaches can lay many eggs despite only mating once. They lay protected capsules that contain an average of 13 eggs each. Nymphs, immature cockroaches, go through a number of molting stages and take nearly two years to reach maturity. An adult American cockroach can live over a year.

History: Originally found in Africa, they were thought to have been brought to America on trading ships.

Name: Oriental Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)

Traits and Appearance: They are the largest of the species that are commonly found in New Jersey, averaging 2 inches in length. Reddish brown in color, with wings the same length as their body.

Habits and Habitat: They prefer areas that are warm and damp, and are often found in sewer pipes and basements. They thrive in temperatures between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. American cockroaches are the least evasive of the common species, often seen during the day. They are the only species common in New Jersey that can fly, although this is generally a rare occurrence.

Diet: Scavenger diet. Can feed on almost anything, especially when food source is limited. Needs water to survive. Prefers decaying material.

Reproduction: Female American cockroaches can lay many eggs despite only mating once. They lay protected capsules that contain an average of 13 eggs each. Nymphs, immature cockroaches, go through a number of molting stages and take nearly two years to reach maturity. An adult American cockroach can live over a year.

History: Originally found in Africa, they were thought to have been brought to America on trading ships.

Name: Brown Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

Traits and Appearance: The Brown-banded cockroach gets its common name from the two yellowish-brown stripes on its wings. They measure about half an inch to 5/8ths inches in length.

Habits and Habitat: Brown-banded cockroaches are also unique in that they require less water to survive than most other species of cockroach. This means that they are often found in places that are warm and dry, rather than the damp areas that other species prefer. They are often found in high locations, and can be found infesting furniture and electronics like TV’s and computers. They are nocturnal, and they are able to fly for short distances.

Diet: Scavenger diet; like most species, these pests will eat everything from decaying organic matter to bath soap.

Reproduction: The Brown-banded cockroach female lays egg capsules that contain around 17-18 eggs. “Nymphs”, or immature young, mature over the course of five to six months, and adults can live almost a full year. The female will carry her egg capsule with her for the first day or two before attaching it to an unused surface in an unexposed area. This will protect the egg capsule until the eggs have an opportunity to hatch.

Name: Tawny (Spotted Mediterranean) Cockroach

Physical Traits: Light brown in color but with a unique transparancy to their pronotum and small speckles or dots on their bodies.

Habitat/Preferences: Unlike most cockroach species found in NJ, these are an outdoor species of cockroach that are often seen indoors due to their attraction to light. The males can fly, and they often make their way into structures at night through small cracks and crevices in areas with exterior lighting. We have found a siginificant increase in the number of reported sightings in the last few years.

Diet: Non Specific; scavenger diet

Reproduction: Two year life cycle, not known to reproduce indoors.