Bugs
Signs You Have Cockroaches
Prevent a small cockroach problem from becoming an infestation by watching for these signs.

Cockroaches are creepy-crawlies that can bring with them some serious health risks such as allergy and asthma attacks. These insects can also spread many types of bacteria, as well as parasitic worms. The fact is, these pests can make you sick, so the sooner you determine they’re in your home or office, the sooner you can contend with the problem.
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Signs that cockroaches are in your home.
How to kill and prevent cockroaches.
What do cockroaches look like?
How to Kill and Prevent Cockroaches
Once you’ve determined that you have roaches, you should immediately take action. Follow these steps to control them:
Kill the Roaches You See: Use Ortho® Home Defense® Ant, Roach & Spider Killer2 which not only kills cockroaches but also sanitizes listed surfaces by killing germs they may leave behind – applies to Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and Klebsiella pneumoniae on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces.
Kill the Roaches You Don’t See: Since cockroaches are nocturnal, baits are a good control strategy. Ortho® Home Defense® Roach Bait is a carefully crafted blend of food, water, and insecticide designed to lure unsuspecting roaches scavenging for food. The benefit is the roaches do all the work, spreading the bait to kill other roaches in hiding. Another way to kill roaches hiding in cracks and other hard-to-reach places is by using Ortho® Home Defense® Insect Killer for Cracks & Crevices, which will continue to kill American and German cockroaches for up to 18 months.
Keep Other Roaches Out: Treat doors, window casings, and other entry points around your home with fast-acting, non-staining, fume-free Ortho® Home Defense Max® Indoor Insect Barrier with Extended Reach Comfort Wand®. It will keep controlling cockroaches on indoor, non-porous surfaces for up to 12 months.
What do Cockroaches Look Like?
German Cockroach
- The most common roach found in the US.
- Wide, flat, oval-shaped body.
- Light brown or tan appearance with 2 dark parallel lines running from its head to its wings.
- 6 long spiny legs.
- Adult roaches range from ½ to ⅝ inches long.
- Adults will have developed wings but do not fly.
- Young roaches (called nymphs) will look like smaller versions of adult German roaches but without wings.
American Cockroach
- One of the largest species of roaches found in the US.
- Adult roaches range from 1-1.5 inches long and will have fully-developed wings (very few can fly).
- Thin, oval body with antennae that are about as long as their body.
- Reddish-brown appearance.
- 6 long spiny legs.
- Nymphs will look like smaller versions of their adult counterparts but without wings.
Oriental Cockroach
- Sometimes referred to as “water bugs” because of their preference for dark, damp areas.
- Adult roaches can range from 1-1.25 inches long.
- Wide oval-shaped body.
- Very dark brown to an almost black shiny appearance.
- 6 long spiny legs.
- Mature adult roaches have short wings but can’t fly.
