Cockroaches range from 3 to 70mm in length and have a broad, flattened body. Certain cockroaches have membranous and toughened wings that assist in flying, and all of them have legs that are extended, adapted and spined for running.

They are drawn to warm environments close to food and water, which often also happen to be where people live. Cockroaches can cause allergies and trigger asthma attacks, especially in children.

 

These bugs can also facilitate disease-causing organisms and gastrointestinal illnesses. Research shows that they carry and spread diseases such as food poisoning, diarrhoea, and dysentery.

 

Common cockroach species in South Africa:

 

German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

Adult German cockroaches are tan or light brown with two dark stripes on their backs. Females can be bit darker than males. Nymphs are dark brown to black and have the stripes. They rarely fly. The gregarious German cockroach has a rich social structure that involves common shelter, social dependence, kin recognition and information transfer.

American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The American cockroach is the largest of all common species. It moults 6–14 times before metamorphosis and has the longest lifespan, at about 700 days. It's reddish-brown, with a yellow margin on the pronotum. They can dart out of sight when they see a threat and often fit into small spaces despite their relatively large size.