Beetle-like insects with relatively small heads and broad, flattened bodies
Reddish-brown to dark brown in color with large compound eyes and long, flexible antennae
Hardy insects that can tolerate a wide range of environments
Generalized insects, with few special adaptations
Hazards
Breed continuously, saturating areas while spreading disease and infection
Carry bacteria, viruses, and dangerous pathogens, which contaminates food and surfaces
Destroy living environments
Can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms, especially in children
In many states, a health inspector can shut down a business for even just one cockroach sighting
Activity
Can enter homes and businesses via cracks and crevices, basement windows, garages, drains, and sewer pipes
Able to fly in when attracted to a light source
Commonly brought in on infested items like cardboard
Nocturnal creatures, performing all foraging and mating at night
In Northern states, cockroaches are active through spring and fall
May be active through the winter if they find a warm place to live (i.e. homes and businesses)
In warmer states, cockroaches are active year-round
Location
Found throughout the US
Prefer warm, moist areas that are close to food and moisture, like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and crawl spaces
Specific spots include food prep areas, porous surfaces like cardboard, cabinets and cupboards, garbage cans, and especially underneath or behind appliances like stoves and refrigerators
Facts
Cockroaches pre-date some dinosaurs, with fossils that date back 350 million years
Cockroaches cannot survive in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit
Cockroaches can live for several weeks without a head
Cockroaches will eat almost anything, including glue, soap, dead roaches, and the stains on fabric
