If you were to Google “cockroaches California,” numerous things would pull up. Still, from that simple search, you could narrow down the most commonly regarded pests that appear down to just nine different species of roach.
While most of the cockroach species here have been native to California for quite some time, others have only cropped up recently. So, what types of cockroaches live in California? These would be as follows:
- German cockroach
- American cockroach
- Oriental cockroach
- Brown-banded cockroach
- Turkestan cockroach
This article has much information to cover, so let’s get started without further ado!
What Cockroaches Live in California?
Many common cockroaches live in California including German, American, and turkestan roaches. However, the specifics of each type are down below.
1. German Cockroaches
German cockroaches are one of the most common cockroaches in California and are dominantly nocturnal insects, skittering away to safety at the first sign of trouble. This cockroach species is easily identified by its light brown color, with dark brown streaks running down the back of its head.
The German cockroach has a very slight distinction between the sexes in that the females of the species are darker, with broader abdomens to accommodate carrying their young. Size does indeed matter when it comes to the German cockroach, as they measure roughly 1/2 to 5/8 an inch in length.
As with any nocturnal roach, if you happen to see one throughout the day, you more than likely have a cockroach infestation, as they try very hard to remain unnoticed. Still, of the five major species common to California, they are the most reclusive.
Read More: How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches Overnight
2. American Cockroaches
American cockroaches are hailed as the goliaths of all cockroaches found throughout California due to their immense size and remarkable speed despite their large stature. The standard American roach is about 1.4 to 2 inches long with reddish-brown wings and contains two prominent spots.
The American cockroach is somewhat shiny and will reflect light to some degree, making it very noticeable when you initially turn on a light. It has short wings extending past its abdomen. It may flicker its wings when startled.
Like all roaches, the American roach will eat just about anything and can be found scavenging amongst trash cans and sewer systems, eagerly looking for any food sources. When it obtains a food source, a cockroach will likely begin nesting nearby.
Read More: How to Get Rid of American Roaches
3. Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches, commonly known as water bugs or black beetles, are cockroach problems you do not want to have. These pests are considered the dirtiest as they contain strong odorous secretions.
Read More: How Do You Get Rid of the Cockroach Smell?
These insects spread all manner of diseases and bacteria while attempting to eat whatever they can find, which can sometimes be your favorite potted plants should they sneak into your home.
Oriental roaches constantly linger around damp basements, bathrooms, and inside sewage. However, you can also find them along scattered leaf litter, searching for their favorite meal, decaying plants, or delicious compost piles.
In terms of what they look like, the oriental cockroach has a glossy blackish-brown to a dark reddish-brown. They might be hard to spot during the nighttime.
Read More: I Found an Oriental Cockroach In My House: How to Get Rid of Them
4. Brown-Banded Cockroaches
Brown-banded roaches leave little to the imagination with their name, appearing light brown and featuring two tiny tan lines running the length of their abdomen. They are effortless to identify once you find them, but finding them is quite a chore.
Ranking as the smallest roach in California at 1/2 inch long, you will have a hard time seeing these little creatures. In that case, it would be wise to focus more on control methods than how to exterminate them once you have them.
Unlike other cockroaches, their small size allows these pests to get into places other roaches could only dream of scavenging. As such, they can trigger allergies and infiltrate pet food and crawl spaces.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Brown-Banded Cockroaches
5. Turkestan Cockroaches
The Turkestan cockroach is an invasive species found in moist places like water meters, sewer drains, and greenhouses. You can find cockroaches like these utilized as food for insectivores, which may explain how they came to be a problem.
Turkestan roaches are usually 1.2 inches in length, with primarily darker brown bodies among the females of the species and light brown among the males. Still, both feature small red highlights throughout the size of their bodies.
As with most roaches, Turkestan cockroaches hail from the east. Still, they are preyed upon in Iraq as a parasitic host for a wasp native to the region, with the roaches’ life being extinguished, becoming food for the growing pupae attached to it.
Are Roaches in California Dangerous?
Yes, roaches in California are dangerous because cockroaches tend to spread diseases and bacteria. This can cause food poisoning and other life-threatening issues.
Certain species of roach, like the “black beetle,” can even cause dysentery and E. coli due to how riddled with pathogens they can be.
What Eats Roaches in California?
Most predatory birds, some insects, and rodents eat roaches in California. This is because they lack natural defenses and have minimal risk for the nutrition they supply. Spiders will also happily dine on most species of cockroaches in California.
Read More: Do Chickens Eat Roaches?
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Roaches in California
There are many natural ways to get rid of roaches in California. For example, you can use lemon juice and bay leaves as deterrents for cockroaches.
All species of cockroaches innately share a weakness of strong scents because it disorients and agitates their senses. Utilizing cedar mulch outside your home can form a defensive perimeter. For the interior of your home, deter cockroaches by misting a peppermint oil spray to on any hiding areas or entry points you may not be aware of.
Conventional Ways to Get Rid of Roaches in California
Some of the most convenient ways someone can get rid of roaches would be carefully monitoring your food preparation and making sure you aren’t leaving behind any crumbs that may attract roaches in the first place.
Aside from preventative measures, boric acid and other bait traps are extremely effective at culling your roach invasion. If you are dealing with a problem from a greenhouse cockroach, plant-safe methods like sticky traps may be a better alternative.
Call Pest Control If All Else Fails
If you are having significant issues with getting rid of any cockroach species in your home, call professional pest control services. These professionals allow you to gain insight into how to handle all manner of roaches you may deal with, from invasive to your average field cockroach. A professional exterminator can guide you on how to kill them all and keep them from coming back.
Overall, we wish you great luck in getting rid of cockroaches, and we hope you found this article helpful!
