German cockroach

Natural Habitat

Damp, warm, and dark places, often found indoors, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, but also warehouses, restaurants, and other commercial buildings.

Diet & Feeding

Opportunistic omnivores, eating almost anything, including scraps of food, grease, soap, glue, and even toothpaste.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, hiding during the day and becoming active at night to forage for food and water. They are fast runners and can climb smooth surfaces. They are known for rapid reproduction and can quickly infest an area.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include potential to spread bacteria and pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli), trigger allergies and asthma symptoms (from their droppings and shed skins), and contaminate food. They do not offer significant benefits to humans or the ecosystem in an urban setting.

Identified on: 10/15/2025