Cockroach populations may be controlled through the use of insecticides, however, in order to thrive, the American cockroaches need a place to hide; so they can be very elusive. This is why a casual day inspection of even a heavily infested household may show no sign whatsoever of roach activity.
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also colloquially known as the water bug, but not a true water bug since it is not aquatic, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. It is also known as the ship cockroach, or Bombay canary.
Bigger than the German and Oriental one, the American cockroach is also attracted to darkness and humidity. These sewer pests, also known as American roaches, are often seen in moist environments and places with high humidity. As they can enter a residence by squeezing through cracks and under doors or through sewer holes, they can easily infest a household.
American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), also colloquially known as the water bug, but not a true water bug since it is not aquatic, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. It is also known as the ship cockroach, or Bombay canary.
The American roach is reddish-brown, about 1.5 inches long or longer, winged, but seldom fly. The male wings are longer than the female wings. Young nymphs are gray-brown in color. As the American cockroaches mature, they become more reddish-brown in appearance.
Despite the name, none of the Periplaneta species is native to the Americas; Periplaneta americana was introduced to the United States from Africa as early as 1625. They are now common in tropical climates because human activity has extended the insect’s range of habitation, and are virtually cosmopolitan in distribution as a result of global commerce. American cockroaches are also known as plagues in the warm Mediterranean coast of Spain and Portugal (starting from Valencia to the Algarve) and in the Canary Islands;