German Cockroach

Natural Habitat

Strictly indoor settings, favoring warm, humid areas with proximity to food and water such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers that consume almost any organic material including food scraps, grease, starch, glue, soap, and leather; they are particularly attracted to sweets.

Behavior Patterns

Primarily nocturnal insects that hide in narrow cracks and crevices during the day. They have a high reproductive rate, with females carrying an egg capsule (ootheca) until shortly before hatching.

Risks & Benefits

Significant household pest; they can transmit pathogenic bacteria (such as Salmonella and E. coli), trigger asthma or allergies through their droppings and shed skins, and contaminate food sources. They offer no notable benefits to the human environment.

Identified on: 1/30/2026