Home › Pest Library › Cockroaches
Cockroach identification guide
Cockroaches in Georgia: How to Tell Which Roach You Have
Size, markings and where you found the roach sort most of them out. A small tan roach with two stripes behind the head is a German or Asian cockroach, a roach about 2 inches long is usually an American cockroach, and a uniformly dark cherry-red roach around 1.5 inches is a smokybrown cockroach, according to University of Georgia entomologists. The species decides what works.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Identification
Which cockroach is it? Compare the species
UGA entomologists say that, apart from the native wood cockroaches, the common roaches in Georgia are not native to the United States but are all well established. Size, color and where you found the roach narrow it down quickly.
| Cockroach | Size and color | Where it lives | Often confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| German | About 1/2 to 5/8 in.; tan with two parallel stripes on the pronotum (behind the head) | Indoors only; mainly kitchens, near warm appliances and water. Active at night | Asian cockroach |
| American | About 2 in.; chestnut to light brown, with pale outer margins on the pronotum | Sewers and other dark, damp hideaways such as basements; rarely, if ever, in attics. Active at night | Smokybrown and Oriental cockroaches |
| Smokybrown | About 1.5 in.; uniformly dark cherry to dark red | Treeholes, attics, crawlspaces, sheds and similar humid harborages; the most common roach in Southern suburban neighborhoods with mature hardwood trees. Active at night | American and Oriental cockroaches |
| Oriental | About 1 to 1.25 in.; cherry to black. Males have short wings; females are wingless | Outdoor harborages; rarely found around suburban homes. Active at night | Smokybrown and American cockroaches |
| Asian | About 1/2 to 5/8 in.; tan with two parallel stripes behind the head | Outdoors in shaded areas with leaf litter, mulch or tall grass; rarely indoors unless drawn in by light | German cockroach |
| Wood cockroaches (native) | Males are light brown to tan and fly well; females are chestnut brown, have short wings and cannot fly | Forests, under bark of fallen trees and in woodpiles. They are not indoor pests; males may stray in toward lights in summer, and roaches ride in on firewood in winter | Smokybrown, American and Asian cockroaches |
Three questions that identify most roaches
Answer these three questions in order. Each one rules species in or out.
- How big is it? Under about 5/8 in. points to a German or Asian cockroach. Around 1 to 1.5 in. points to a smokybrown or Oriental cockroach. About 2 in. points to an American cockroach.
- Where did you find it? A small roach in a kitchen or bathroom is far more likely to be a German cockroach. A small tan roach outdoors in mulch or leaf litter, or drawn to a light, is more likely an Asian cockroach. A large roach in a basement or crawlspace could be American; one in a treehole, attic or shed could be smokybrown.
- What do the markings look like? Two dark stripes behind the head mean German or Asian. Pale outer margins on the pronotum mean American. A uniformly dark cherry to dark red body means smokybrown.
If two species fit, photograph the roach next to a coin for scale and have a professional identify it. UGA says the right control depends on the species.
Why the species changes what works
UGA gives different advice for different roaches, which is why identification comes first.
German cockroach (indoors)
UGA recommends pheromone-based sticky traps to find the activity and gel baits and bait stations to control it. It says total-release aerosols (bug bombs) are ineffective and should not be used indoors. See the German cockroach guide.
American, smokybrown and Oriental
UGA recommends gel baits (small dabs no larger than a pea) or broadcast granular baits where the roaches are found. Bait stations can handle small nymphs, but adults and large nymphs may be too big for most stations. See the American cockroach guide.
Asian and wood cockroaches
For Asian cockroaches UGA suggests changing lighting so the structure is less attractive at night and broadcasting granular bait where they are found. For wood cockroaches UGA says no intervention is needed, because they will not establish infestations indoors.
Prevention that helps for every roach
- Keep food in tightly sealed containers, clean up spills and empty indoor garbage at least twice a week. UGA lists these as basic habits that limit access to food.
- Reduce clutter. UGA says clutter provides harborage, and sometimes food, for pests.
- Cut moisture. UGA calls excessive, persistent moisture the most important condition that lets many infestations establish and persist.
- Keep groundcovers at least 1.5 feet from the foundation, and limit mulch depth near the house.
- Seal cracks, gaps and entryways, and add door sweeps, window screens and screening on foundation and attic vents.
Drainage matters too: UGA advises directing rainwater, gutter, downspout and air-conditioner condensate away from the foundation, and ventilating attics, crawlspaces and basements.
Handle it yourself, or call a professional
Handle it yourself when
- You found a single large roach and no others.
- The roach is a wood cockroach that wandered in toward a light or came in on firewood.
- You can clearly identify the species and follow baiting directions on the label.
Call a professional when
- You see roaches in several rooms or they keep coming back after baiting.
- You are not sure which species you have.
- Large roaches keep turning up inside, which can point to moisture or entry points you cannot reach.
- The roaches are in a restaurant or other commercial kitchen.
How Pest Control Atlanta helps
We inspect to identify the species and find where the roaches are living and getting in, 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.
- Pest Inspection in Atlanta, GA.termination-atlanta-ga/'>Cockroach Exterminator in Atlanta
- Restaurant Pest Control in Atlanta
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a palmetto bug a different kind of roach?
UF/IFAS says the American cockroach is often called a “palmetto bug.” UGA lists the American cockroach at about 2 inches long. The word is a regional nickname, so check size and markings rather than relying on it. See the American cockroach guide.
Which roaches live outdoors in Georgia?
According to UGA, smokybrown cockroaches live in treeholes, attics, crawlspaces and sheds, Oriental cockroaches in outdoor harborages, Asian cockroaches in shaded areas with leaf litter, mulch or tall grass, and wood cockroaches under bark and in woodpiles. The German cockroach is the one that lives only indoors.
Are wood cockroaches a problem?
UGA says wood cockroaches are native forest insects that are not indoor pests. Males may be attracted to outdoor lights in summer and come in by accident, and roaches can be carried in on firewood in winter. UGA says no intervention is needed because they will not establish infestations indoors.
Do bug bombs work on cockroaches?
UGA says total-release aerosols (bug bombs) are ineffective against German cockroaches and should not be used indoors. It recommends baits placed where the roaches are found, following label directions.
Why do I see large roaches inside?
UGA says American cockroaches are mainly found in sewers and other dark, damp hideaways such as basements, and smokybrown cockroaches live in treeholes, attics, crawlspaces and sheds. Moisture and shelter near the house draw them close, which is why UGA stresses drainage, ventilation and sealing gaps.
How do I keep roaches out?
Keep food sealed, clean up spills, reduce clutter, fix moisture problems, keep groundcovers at least 1.5 feet from the foundation, and seal gaps with door sweeps and vent screening, as UGA recommends.
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, September 21, 2022
- Insect and Arthropod Pests of Southeastern Neighborhoods: A Guide to Identification and Management (Bulletin 1412), UGA Extension — revised June 2023 per the PDF; the UGA page lists October 20, 2023
- American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, University of Florida Entomology and Nematology (UF/IFAS cockroach photographs) — copyright 2005; used for the “palmetto bug” name
More identification guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another identification guide:
- German Cockroach: How to Identify It and What Works in Atlanta Homes
- American Cockroach (Palmetto Bug): How to Identify It and What to Do
- Rat vs Mouse: How to Tell Which One Is in Your Atlanta Home
- Eastern Subterranean Termites in Georgia: Swarmers, Mud Tubes and What to Do
- How to Get Rid of Cockroaches at Home
Not sure which roach you have?
Call Pest Control Atlanta to talk through what you are seeing. We can inspect, identify the species and treat the areas where roaches are active.
Call Pest Control Atlanta (404) 647-6677Licensed & Insured company. Serving Atlanta and surrounding areas. Available 24/7 for calls, bookings and on-site service.
