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Cockroach identification guide
German Cockroach: How to Identify It and What Works in Atlanta Homes
German cockroaches are small, tan roaches with two dark stripes behind the head. University of Georgia entomologists describe them as indoor-only pests that live mainly in kitchens near warm appliances and water and are active at night. If you are finding small tan roaches inside, this is the species to check first.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Identification
Is it a German cockroach? How to tell it from other roaches
Most roaches that people find in Georgia homes are one of a few species, and size is the fastest way to separate them. A German cockroach is the small one.
| Species | Size and color | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| German cockroach | About 1/2 to 5/8 in. long, tan, with two dark parallel stripes on the pronotum (the plate behind the head) | Indoors only, mainly in kitchens near warm appliances and water. Active at night |
| American cockroach (often called a palmetto bug) | About 2 in. long, chestnut to light brown, with pale outer margins on the pronotum | Sewers and other dark, damp hideaways such as basements. Rarely, if ever, found in attics |
| Asian cockroach | Can be mistaken for a German cockroach, but has longer, narrower wings | Generally found outdoors |
Quick size check: a roach about two inches long is not a German cockroach. The two dark stripes behind the head are the clearest mark for the small tan species.
Where German cockroaches hide, and how to confirm activity
UGA entomologists say German cockroaches are found mainly in kitchens, near and in warm appliances and near sources of water. University of Florida (UF/IFAS) describes them as living first in kitchens and then in bathrooms. They are active at night, so you may notice them when you switch on the kitchen light after dark.
Check these places first
- Around and behind the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher, where warmth and moisture collect.
- Under kitchen and bathroom sinks and around plumbing.
- Bathrooms, especially near water.
Confirm activity with sticky traps
UGA recommends pheromone-based sticky traps to highlight areas of activity. Put a few traps in the spots above, note where each one is, and check them after a few days. Where the roaches show up tells you where treatment should focus, and the count over time shows whether it is working.
Why infestations grow indoors
German cockroaches depend on buildings, which is why they stay close to food, warmth and water inside your home.
30 to 40 eggs per case
UF/IFAS reports that each German cockroach egg case contains 30 to 40 eggs, and that development time from egg to adult varies with temperature and humidity.
An indoor-only pest
UGA describes it as an obligate indoor pest that is rarely found outdoors except in extreme indoor infestations.
Allergies in heavy infestations
UGA says that at extreme infestation levels this cockroach may be responsible for allergies, especially in children.
What works, what does not, and when to call
What UGA says works
- Gel baits and bait stations.
- Pheromone-based sticky traps to find where the activity is.
- Spot treatment with a residual spray that is labeled for the use, applied as the label directs.
- Cleaning up food, grease and spills and fixing moisture problems so the roaches have less to live on.
What UGA says does not work
- Total-release aerosols (bug bombs). UGA calls them ineffective.
Call a professional when
- Roaches turn up in several rooms or keep coming back after baiting.
- You live in an apartment or shared building where roaches can move between units.
- The roaches are in a restaurant or other commercial kitchen.
How Pest Control Atlanta helps
We inspect to confirm the species and find where the roaches are hiding, treat the areas where they are active, and address the conditions that support them. Our service carries a “Satisfaction Guaranteed — Free Re-Treatment If Pests Return” guarantee.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a palmetto bug a German cockroach?
Usually not. People often use “palmetto bug” for the large American cockroach, which UGA lists at about 2 inches long. The German cockroach is much smaller, about 1/2 to 5/8 inch, and tan with two stripes behind the head.
Can German cockroaches live outside in Georgia?
UGA describes the German cockroach as an obligate indoor pest that is never to rarely found outdoors, except in cases of extreme indoor infestations.
Do bug bombs work on German cockroaches?
No. UGA says total-release aerosols (bug bombs) are ineffective. It recommends gel baits and bait stations, sticky traps to find activity, and spot treatment with a properly labeled residual spray.
How many eggs does a German cockroach lay?
UF/IFAS reports 30 to 40 eggs in each egg case. How fast the young reach adulthood depends on temperature and humidity.
Are German cockroaches harmful?
UGA says that under extreme levels of infestation this cockroach may be responsible for allergies, especially in children. It is also a good reason to keep food, grease and moisture under control.
How do I tell a German cockroach from an Asian cockroach?
UGA notes the two can be confused. The Asian cockroach has longer, narrower wings and is generally found outdoors, while the German cockroach is an indoor species.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 7, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Cockroaches (order Blattaria), UGA Integrated Pest Management — by Suiter, Forschler, Ames and Hoebeke, published September 21, 2022
- Insect and Arthropod Pests of Southeastern Neighborhoods: A Guide to Identification and Management (Bulletin 1412), UGA Extension — published October 20, 2023
- German cockroach, Blattella germanica, University of Florida Entomology and Nematology (UF/IFAS cockroach photographs) — copyright 2005; used for egg-case and bathroom-habit details
More identification guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another identification guide:
Seeing small tan roaches in your kitchen?
Call Pest Control Atlanta to talk through what you are seeing. We can inspect, confirm the species and treat the areas where roaches are active.
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