Is There Such Thing as Waterbug Cockroach?

Sep 10
09:17

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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The waterbug cockroach is often called the oriental cockroach, and like other species of roaches, this typically is not an insect that you want in your home.

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‘Water bug' seems to be a fitting name for insects that hide out in damp parts of a home and in sewers—essentially places of high moisture. Typical hideouts might be in or around drains,Is There Such Thing as Waterbug Cockroach? Articles washing machines, sewage lines, and crawl spaces. They may also find a hiding place beneath refrigerators.

The waterbug cockroach feeds off of decaying or rotting garbage as well as rotting plant and animal substances.  Because this roach feeds off of such substances, you can get quite sick if these insects move into your home and contaminate your food, countertop surfaces, kitchen, and bathroom areas.

This is not a type of cockroach that will generally be seen on countertops and walls, though it is not impossible like the German roach or even the American cockroach.  This type of roach likes very moist, damp areas such as basements, washing machines, drains, under refrigerators, areas around leaking pipes, sewage lines, and crawl spaces.  The waterbug cockroach is known for its unpleasant smell and ability to rot food with its saliva.

The waterbug cockroach is typically about 1 ¼ inches long, and a very distinctive characteristic is their wings.  Though these roaches have wings, they cannot fly.  The females have wings, but they are shorter and look more like a little pad on their back.  The males are more slender than the females and their wings cover the entire length of their bodies.  As far as other identifiable characteristics go, the waterbug cockroach is shin and dark brown or black in color.  The waterbug nymphs are generally darker in color than the adults, though the younger roaches do not have wings.

You'll likely see these roaches in the summer months of May, June, and July.  Many people note that the waterbug cockroach is easy to identify because it does not move as quickly as other roaches do.

Females will lay egg cases after carrying them around for at least 12 hours.  The egg cases are red in color, about one inch long, and look a bit puffed up, or as if they are filled with air.  She will then bury or hide the egg case in a damp area, often times in a source of food.  The nymphs will hatch about two months later, and will take up to six months to grow to adult size. 

You can keep the waterbug cockroach from setting up shop in your home, but you have to be very careful not to offer food and water.  You should also be sure to avoid allowing the roaches to find a point of entry into your home.  Keeping your home clean, free of standing water, food, and even crumbs will help prevent the welcoming of these dirty insects.  If you have identified the roaches in your home as the oriental cockroach, you should put a plan of action together and react right away to do away with the current inhabitants and avoid welcoming more into your home.

For more control information of this pest, check our main page here:

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