The Oriental Cockroach is a large, shiny dark brown to black cockroach that prefers cool, damp basements, sewers, and drains — earning the name 'water bug.' Males have shortened wing covers while females are nearly wingless. It moves more slowly than other pest cockroaches and is associated with moist, cool environments rather than kitchens.
Best time to see a Oriental Cockroach
The best time to see a Oriental Cockroach is April–July, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 4,156 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Oriental Cockroach? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Oriental Cockroach sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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