The American cockroach is known by many common names-"Bombay canary," "water bug," "palmetto bug" - as well as many unprintable expletives. It is the largest of the house-infesting cockroaches, being up to 2-1/8 inches (53mm) long with fully developed reddish-brown wings and light markings on the thorax. The sexes are almost identical is size, the females averaging 1.33 inches (34.7 mm) long and the males 1.25 inches (33.6 mm) long. The female has a broader abdomen than the male. The wings of the male extend from 1/10 to 1/3 inch (4 to 8 mm) over the end of the abdomen, while in the female they are equal to or only slightly larger than the abdomen. This cockroach is commonly found in sewers and basements, particularly around pipes and drains.
This cockroach has a world-wide distribution and is the most prevalent species in and around homes, apartments, supermarkets, food processing plants and restaurants. Ships, especially cruise ships and naval vessels, also can be heavily infested. German cockroaches are found primarily in kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas where daily access to water is available. If sanitation is poor, the German cockroach can successfully expand its normal habitat to include all portions of a structure where adequate food, water and garbage exits. The German cockroach is about 5/8 inch (16 mm) in length, brown in color, with two dark longitudinal stripes on the abdomen.