There are three main species of cockroach:
- Oriental Cockroach
- German Cockroach
- American Cockroach
They are robust insects with long antennae and reasonable vision. They are active, quick moving and may travel up to 50m in search of food. As they are of tropical origin they will normally live indoors (usually seen at night).
In the Dubai we generally get two types, Oriental and German.
German Cockroach
The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is one of the most common and troublesome household pests worldwide. It is a small cockroach species, typically measuring 13–16 mm in length, and is light brown to tan in color with two distinctive dark stripes running parallel down its back. German cockroaches are commonly found in kitchens, restaurants, food storage areas, bathrooms, and other places where food, water, and warmth are readily available.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach is approximately 35mm in length and are a reddish brown colour, with a yellow margin to the thorax. The male and female are winged. They are found mainly by docks within heated buildings.
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is a common household pest found in damp, dark, and cool environments. It is often referred to as the “water bug” because of its preference for moist areas such as basements, drains, sewers, crawl spaces, and around leaking pipes. Adult Oriental cockroaches are dark brown to black in color and have a shiny appearance. Males are about 18–25 mm long and have short wings that cover part of their bodies, while females are slightly larger and have very small wing pads.
Oriental cockroaches are primarily active at night and hide during the day. They feed on decaying organic matter, garbage, food scraps, and other waste materials.
