Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects on the planet and can infest a wide range of environments—from homes and restaurants to cardboard boxes. They can squeeze through small cracks, allowing them to travel along water pipes and electrical lines, moving from room to room or even from one apartment to another.

German cockroaches typically enter buildings by hitchhiking in boxes, furniture, or other items brought indoors. Other species usually invade from outside, sneaking in through cracks and crevices.

German cockroach feces contain a pheromone that signals to other cockroaches that the area is a good place to settle. Since most cockroaches prefer resting on wood over other surfaces, they’re often found in wooden cabinets or cardboard boxes. When large numbers gather and fecal matter builds up, aggregation points are formed.

Cockroach infestations are extremely difficult to eliminate, which is why professional pest control is almost always necessary. While maintaining a clean, food-free environment can help reduce their presence, it is rarely enough to fully resolve an infestation.

Learn more about some of the cockroaches most commonly found in Arkansas:

American Cockroach

• Appearance: Large (1.5 – 2 inches), reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-8 pattern on the head.

• Behavior: Prefers warm, moist areas like basements, sewers, and boiler rooms. Can fly short distances.

• Risks: Known to spread bacteria and contaminate food; their size and sudden movements can cause alarm.

German Cockroach

• Appearance: Small (½ – ⅝ inch), light brown or tan with two dark stripes behind the head.

• Behavior: Lives and breeds indoors; thrives in kitchens and bathrooms. Reproduces rapidly – one of the hardest species to control.

• Risks: Major indoor pest; spreads pathogens, triggers asthma, and causes allergic reactions. Infestations can grow quickly.

Smokybrown Cockroach

• Appearance: Medium to large (1 – 1.5 inches), uniformly dark brown with a shiny appearance.

• Behavior: More common outdoors; attracted to lights and often found in attics, garages, or under mulch and shingles.

• Risks: Can enter homes in search of food or water; carries bacteria and can contaminate surfaces and food items.

Have you seen signs of cockroaches around your property? Contact Legacy today for a free no-obligation pest consultation.