If you’re living in Britain, you may want to know what kind of cockroaches we share our country with. That’s what we’ll discuss here in this article.
In the UK, there are two main species of cockroach: the German cockroach and the Oriental cockroach. We also have the Brown-banded cockroaches, but they are a very rare find.
In a moment, we’ll look at each of these species and find out more about where they live and what they look like so you can identify which one you’ve spotted.
First, though, it’s worth noting that here in Britain, cockroaches are not a major pest. This is because of our cold weather, which makes it hard for them to thrive. In warmer climates abroad, cockroaches are a bigger problem and can live happily both outside in nature and inside buildings, infesting sewers and living in trees. But in the UK, all cockroaches tend to live indoors.
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the most common and well-known species of cockroach not only in Britain but also in the world. They are typically a light tan colour with two dark stripes running along their backs. The German cockroach can grow up to 1.5 cm in length and is smaller than other species, such as the Oriental cockroach.
Inside your home or business
Like most cockroaches, German cockroaches prefer warm, humid environments. They can be found in kitchens near food sources, in bathrooms, under furniture or appliances, and even inside electronics like televisions and computers.
Physical Characteristics of German cockroaches
- Light tan coloured body with two dark stripes along the back
- Wings that cover their entire body length
- Long antennae
- Grows up to 1.5cm in length
- Smaller than other roach species
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental cockroach is another type of cockroach commonly found in Britain. They prefer dark and damp places, such as basements and drains. They typically have a very dark brown body that is glossy in appearance. Oriental cockroaches grow up to 2 cm in length. The wings of the Oriental cockroach are slightly shorter than its body length, and they have six legs and two long antennae.
Inside your home or business
Oriental cockroaches can often be found in damp areas such as basements or crawl spaces as well as bathrooms or around sinks where there may be water or food sources.
Physical Characteristics of Oriental cockroaches:
- Dark brown, almost black body with a glossy appearance
- Shorter wings than its body length
- Six legs and two long antennae
- Grows up to 2 cm in length
- Larger than German Cockroaches
Brown-Banded Cockroach
The Brown-banded Cockroach is a type of small brownish-red roach. They typically grow up to 1 cm in length and have two light bands across their backs, which give them their name. The wings on the female of this species are short compared to its body length, while the wings on the male are the full length of the body. They both have six legs and two long antennae.
Inside your home or business
The Brown-banded Cockroach prefers warm environments like boiler rooms where there are plenty of cracks and crevices for it to hide in, such as behind skirting boards or inside cabinets. This species is quite rare in the UK due to its preference for very warm environments. Even in warmer climates, the brown-banded cockroach is exclusively domestic.
Physical Characteristics of the Brown-banded cockroach:
- Reddish-brown coloured body with two light bands across its back
- Shorter wings than its body length
- Six legs and two long antennae
- Grows up to 1 cm in length
- Smaller than most other roach species
What to do if you have cockroaches
If you’ve seen one of these cockroaches in your building, you should call pest control immediately. Merlin specialises in helping businesses across the UK to get rid of pests, so contact us if you have cockroaches in your UK business.
