Oriental Cockroach Facts

• Color: Dark brown to shiny black

How to Identify Oriental Cockroaches

Female oriental cockroaches are slightly longer than males. Males have fully developed but short, broad wings extending over the majority of their bodies; females only have short triangular wing pads. The inner wing folds like a fan and is membranous whereas the outer part of the wing is narrow, leathery, and thick. Neither male nor female Oriental cockroaches fly. Unlike other cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches cannot climb smooth surfaces because they lack specialized pads on their feet. This means that, unlike other species, the Oriental cockroach much prefers the floor and will avoid climbing walls and ceilings.

Oriental Cockroach Behavior

Similar to most cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches prefer dark, damp spaces because this species relies heavily on water. Oriental cockroaches can go an entire month without food, but only 2 weeks without water. They prefer to feed on decaying material and trash. In an outside environment they will most likely be found under mulch and rocks, under debris or in sewer systems. These cockroaches tend to be seasonal, with adults likely to appear in spring and summer months.