Summary: All roaches are disgusting, but it’s still important to know the difference between each common species. This blog takes a closer look at the key differences between German roaches and oriental roaches. Pointe Pest Control provides targeted roach treatments.
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It’s not a secret that roaches are disgusting creatures. They live in sewers and damp, dark places that have plenty of food. “Food” is a loose term since roaches eat just about anything, so these pests aren’t confined to the kitchen when they need sustenance.
We don’t recommend getting too close to these pests (not that you’d want to anyway), but it is a good idea to know the key differences between common species. Different roaches require different treatments. The most efficient way to end a pest infestation is to target that species with the right treatments.
In Illinois and Missouri, two of the most common species are German roaches and oriental roaches. So, let’s take a (virtual) closer look at these two pests to learn about their key differences!
Appearance
German Roaches: German roaches are 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch long. Their coloring ranges from tan to dark brown, offset by the two dark stripes on their thorax. They have long, sensitive antennae that they use for sensing their surroundings. Since they only take about two months to go from an egg to an adult, these roaches multiply quickly in the right environment.
Oriental Roaches: These pests are about 1 inch long, so they’re noticeably larger than German roaches. Oriental roaches are dark brown or black and have a glossy sheen. They have wide, flat bodies and long antennae. It takes them 18 months to go from an egg to an adult. They’re also called the “black beetle” or “water bug” for their tendency to stay near water.
Family
German Roaches: These insects are notoriously fast reproducers. Female German roaches average 4 to 8 egg cases in their lifetimes, with 40 eggs in each case. Since these pests live up to a year, an infestation can happen before you know it. After all, females can produce over 300 eggs in their lifetimes! The mother protects the egg case by carrying it until it hatches.
Oriental Roaches: Oriental roaches are also persistent reproducers, but their cooler habitats lead to a slower reproductive rate. Females have 8 total egg cases, averaging 16 eggs in each. Instead of carrying it, the mother stores her egg case in a safe place until it hatches. Oriental roaches only live for 6 months, so they don’t have much time to grow their families.
Habitat
German Roaches: These roaches 100% rely on humans for everything, even though we don’t willingly give them anything. They stay in humid areas with plenty of hiding spots. The kitchen and bathroom are usually their favorites since they can hide under appliances and fixtures. Their kryptonite is lights, so these pests will scurry away when a light is flipped on.
Oriental Roaches: Oriental roaches love humid, warm, and sheltered spaces. With that in mind, it’s interesting to note that they prefer to stay outside and love the light. They’re often found in gutters, mulch, leaf piles, crawl spaces, and basements. They can squeeze through gaps by compressing their bodies, so they are willing to enter an indoor space when they have the chance.
Diet
German Roaches: German roaches usually won’t go beyond 10 feet outside of their habitat in search of food. Within that circle, they eat basically anything they can find. That’s how they’re able to survive in less-than-ideal conditions. These pests do have a preference for organic materials and foods, like leather, starch, fruit, and pet food.
Oriental Roaches: As unappealing as the diet of German roaches sounds, the diet of oriental roaches is even worse. They eat decaying organic matter, so everything rotten is fair game. They enjoy sewage, garbage, and leftover canned foods. They’re not picky (obviously), so these pests are okay with eating whatever garbage that’s near their habitat.
Fun Facts
German Roaches: This species is the most common roach invader across the country. The main reason for this is their complete reliance on humans for their necessities. German roaches get into homes by squeezing through gaps or hitchhiking on boxes. They live with other roaches and mark their paths by leaving droppings laced with pheromones (scent chemicals).
Oriental Roaches: Since these pests can handle the cold, they have no problem overwintering in a yard. This allows them to stay in any area of their choosing throughout the year. They can also fly short distances and often land near lights, so they’re easier to spot than German roaches. Oriental roaches stay near garbage when they can, which leads us to their health risks.
Health Risks
German Roaches: These pests are a major issue in populated buildings, like restaurants, stores, and apartments. They want to live near people for the aforementioned resources, so a busy commercial setting is their paradise. German roaches contaminate food just by touching it. They can cause food poisoning and dysentery in humans who consume their contaminated food.
Oriental Roaches: These pests mainly impact us by contaminating surfaces and spreading allergens. They stay in well-lit areas, but they don’t rely on people as much as German roaches. Oriental roaches create new problems by walking on our food and surfaces after crawling through their gross garbage habitats. They can spread E. Coli and salmonella to humans.
We would be remiss if we didn’t include a general note that all roaches we see are capable of making us sick. They carry over 30 diseases and 7 human pathogens. These, as well as roach allergens, are spread through the roach’s skin, droppings, and body parts. The most common diseases linked to roaches are E. Coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus.
The Importance of Roach Control
No matter which roach species you’re facing, professional roach control is always important. These pests can live for up to a week without their heads, reproduce asexually, and withstand forces up to 900 times their body weight. Not to mention, they’re resistant to a good amount of insecticides.
All of these are prime reasons why roach control is best left to the professionals. These pests need to be eliminated ASAP — before they reproduce even more. Targeted treatments and advanced preventative methods are the key to true roach prevention.
Traps are used for assessment and monitoring, not solving issues. That’s an easy mistake to make when the problem isn’t left to the pros. Once the technician confirms the areas of roach activity — based on the results of the traps — they can target the high-traffic areas. Bait stations and granules target the whole group of roaches for the ultimate solutions.
In between professional services, there are some easy ways to prevent roaches. Make sure all trash makes it into the garbage cans, and keep the lids to the outdoor garbage bins closed. Also, store pantry essentials (baking ingredients, cereal, etc.) in airtight containers. Eliminate potential entry points by sealing cracks in the house with waterproof caulk.
Remember: pest prevention is the most effective when you remove access to their food, water, and shelter. When pests don’t have access to these three things, they won’t stick around.
No One Stops Roaches Like Pointe
Professional roach control is essential for any type of cockroach problem. These hardy pests need to be treated with strong products applied by an expert who knows the abilities and habits of roaches — like the technicians of Pointe Pest Control. Our team handles roach infestations with the utmost efficiency and care. We understand the importance of keeping your home free of these disease-ridden pests.
Between our customized treatment plans and our knowledge of local pests, we are able to target the root of each pest problem to ensure it doesn’t return in the future. For a free quote on our reliable services, contact our team today!
Citations
Cockroaches. (n.d.). Illinois Department of Public Health. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/structural-pest-control/cockroaches.html
Malinoski, M.K. & Ricigliano, D. (2024, October 17). Cockroaches. University of Maryland Extension. Available at https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cockroaches/ (Accessed on May 2, 2025).
Schaedel, D. (2024, December 24). Asian cockroach vs. German cockroach identification tips. Pest Control Technology. Available at https://www.pctonline.com/news/asian-cockroaches-german-cockroaches-identification-tips/ (Accessed on May 2, 2025).
Why are cockroaches so hard to kill?. (n.d.). Terro. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.terro.com/articles/why-are-cockroaches-so-hard-to-kill?srsltid=AfmBOoojfFPftjR2Av-dT88dYR4DzaSsw2gZ0wdD0F5-fKc4Ft7HaiPD
