Roaches and other bugs are those annoying insects with six legs that you usually spot in your kitchen or bathroom. There are thousands of species of cockroaches, they are annoying pests especially if they come into your home unexpectedly. These roaches tend to bite, which would cause an infection to spread all over the body. Apart from bites, these insects also carry bacteria which may cause some serious illnesses or conditions for humans. There are many types of cockroaches that you might find hiding in your home but here is a list of 12 bugs that look like cockroaches and how can you differentiate them from a roach. In eight cases out of ten, if you have a pest in your house, it is a cockroach. Why do I say that? Because there are so many variations of this bug that can easily confuse an untrained eye and make it hard to identify the exact species or even genus. However, with some time and patience, you will figure out the exact type of cockroaches on your property before getting rid of them.

12 bugs that look like cockroaches

12 bugs that look like cockroaches

American cockroach

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Smoky brown cockroach

The smoky brown cockroach is a species of large cockroach. They are dark brown to black in color with a glossy body. Smoky brown cockroaches are very similar to the American cockroach but are slightly smaller, typically growing up to 1 inch long as adults. You can also identify them by their wings—the forewing of the smoky brown is fully developed and covers the entire abdomen, while the American’s forewing only extends 2/3 down its back. The smoky brown is commonly found in warmer areas like Florida, Texas, and California. They like moist places outdoors that provide food and water, such as drains or sewers.

Oriental cockroach

Oriental cockroaches are another dark-colored, larger species of cockroach that can be found in the warmer states of the U.S. They live primarily in moist areas, such as basements and sewers and are primarily active at night. However, they will come out during the day. These pests feed on garbage or decaying organic matter and if needed, will eat other kinds of nonliving organic materials.

Turkestan cockroach

The Turkestan cockroach is native to Asia, but has been transported around the world by humans. It’s a reddish-brown color and usually reaches 1/2 to 1 inch long as an adult.

This cockroach is a fast runner capable of reaching speeds of 50 body lengths per second. They like warm, dry climates and are commonly found in the southwestern United States.

German cockroach

While the German cockroach is not native to the United States or Europe, it has spread throughout the world since ancient times. It’s found in North Africa and the Middle East and was first discovered in Germany. German cockroaches are easily identifiable because they’re light brown, have long antennae, and are about half an inch long as adults.

A female German cockroach can produce four to eight egg cases containing 30-40 eggs over its lifetime. These eggs hatch into nymphs (young roaches) after 45 days.

Brown banded cockroach

If you’re a homeowner, brown banded cockroaches (Supella longipalpa) are likely one of the intruder species you hope to never encounter.

Brown banded cockroaches get their name from their light and brown markings. They’re about ½ inch long and have two light bands across their wings and bodies. Brown banded cockroaches don’t need much moisture, so they’re more likely to be found in dry, warm places like in cabinets or around appliances.

Wood cockroach

Wood cockroaches are found in wooded areas and do not infest homes. They are also slower than other cockroaches, making it easier to catch one to see for yourself.

They have the omnivorous diet of most cockroach species, eating both plants and insects. They are harmless to humans and should be released back into their natural environment if you happen upon one of these critters.

Field cockroach

The field cockroach is brown or black and can be distinguished from other cockroaches because of two black spots on the pronotum (front part of the thorax, directly behind the head) and has a lighter margin around the base. The wings are three-quarters as long as the body.

Field cockroaches have been known to live in agricultural areas, including fields, food storage areas, in stables, and similar environments. Field cockroaches are common nuisance pests in the United States. However, they may become household pests if they gain access to homes through cracks or open windows or doors. When a home becomes infested with these roaches, it is usually due to an outdoor field population that has migrated into the house.

Field cockroaches are often found in damp areas such as hollow trees or under piles of leaves where there is abundant moist organic matter such as animal excrement. They prefer cool places and are not considered serious pests inside the home because warmer temperatures make them inactive (they do not need food for survival).

Surinam cockroach

You should be able to tell them apart from cockroaches by their larger size and more oval shape. The adult Surinam cockroach is usually 8-10 mm in length, while its American counterpart is only around 12-15 mm.

The Surinam cockroach is the only roach known to give birth to live young instead of laying eggs like others. It also goes by the name pineapple roach due to its coloration resembling that of the fruit.

The Surinam cockroach can be found in tropical areas of South America, but has spread into North America as well, where it can currently be found in a handful of southern states including Florida and Texas.

Common wood roach

The common wood roach (or Parcoblatta pennsylvanica) is a smaller version of the American cockroach. While they are both brown in color, the common wood roach can be identified by its much smaller size and range. It typically lives in forests, but you may still encounter it on your porch or inside your home if you live near a forested area.

If you live in the eastern part of the United States, you have probably seen this small insect. You may mistake it for an American cockroach at first glance, as both insects are a similar shade of brown. However, the common wood roach is about half the size of an American cockroach and is usually found outdoors. Unlike other species of roaches—which prefer to come out during the day—the common wood roach comes out at night and prefers to hide under wet logs and rocks during daylight hours. The female will lay her eggs in crevices near moist soil or areas with high humidity levels.

Australian cockroach

The Australian cockroach is a species of cockroach that closely resembles the American cockroach, but is smaller in size. Its body shape and colors are nearly identical to the smoky brown cockroach, but it’s slightly larger.

These insects have wings and can fly, and they’re often found in tropical climates. The Australian cockroach is not native to North America.

Death’s head roach

You’ll find it in the subtropical regions of Africa. Look closely and you’ll spot a black body with yellow legs, slightly smaller than an American cockroach. Don’t worry, they don’t invade homes or damage property—this is no pest! Instead, they feed on other insects and will be happy to gobble up any pests hanging around your garden.

Cockroaches come in lots of shapes and sizes

Cockroaches come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are about 4,000 different species worldwide. While the German cockroach is the most common roach found in homes, it’s just one species out of many. They can be very small or quite large; they live in all sorts of environments; and they come in all sorts of colors.

That said, we’re going to focus on the insects below that aren’t actually cockroaches but have similar qualities—like their long antennae—that make them look like cockroaches.