German Cockroach
Small indoor roaches that breed explosively in kitchens and bathrooms.
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica) is a Florida pest we rate as a high concern. For cockroach & German roach control in Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, Rhino Pest Management sends licensed (#JB242881) and insured technicians and backs the work with a free re-service guarantee; 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews. Free estimate: (772) 589-6842.
Photo: no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist (research grade)
Light brown to tan, about 13–16 mm, with two dark parallel stripes behind the head. They rarely fly. Egg cases (oothecae) are carried by the female until just before hatching.
Warm, humid harborage near food and water: behind refrigerators and stoves, under sinks, in cabinet voids and small appliances.
- Roaches scattering when you turn on the kitchen light
- Pepper-like droppings in drawers and cabinet corners
- Brown egg cases in cracks
- A musty odor in heavy infestations
They contaminate food, trigger asthma and allergies (a leading indoor allergen), and spread bacteria. A few become hundreds in weeks — this is the roach that infests, not just visits.
Should I call today?
Yes, get it looked at promptly. German Cockroach causes damage or health problems that compound while you wait, and the cost of that damage is the part that actually gets expensive — not the treatment. An inspection is free, so there's no reason to guess.
Rhino uses gel baits, insect growth regulators and crack-and-crevice treatment to break the breeding cycle — not just kill what you see. Every Home Protection Plan includes a German roach warranty.
Our Cockroach & German Roach Control serviceGerman Cockroach guides
More cockroaches
The big reddish-brown roaches that fly in from outside, especially at night.
ViewUniform mahogany-brown roaches that live in tree hollows and fly readily at night.
ViewA large, slow-moving, wingless roach that sprays a foul-smelling chemical when threatened.
ViewScientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
German Cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) — UF/IFAS Extension