🪳 Florida Cockroach Library

Arrest A Pest – Know Your Enemy, Win the Fight

Welcome to Arrest A Pest’s comprehensive Cockroach Identification Center — your go-to source for learning about the most common and invasive cockroach species found throughout Florida. Whether you’re dealing with an infestation or just want to stay informed, this page is the perfect starting point.

Florida is home to several types of cockroaches, each with distinct appearances, habits, and threats. From fast-breeding indoor invaders to large forest-dwellers, understanding the differences is key to effective pest control.

Below, you’ll find quick links and images for each species we’ve documented so far:

🔗 Explore Florida’s Most Common Cockroaches

🟥 American Cockroach

Often called the “palmetto bug,” this large reddish-brown roach is a frequent home invader, especially in warm, damp areas.

🟩 Australian Cockroach

Similar to the American but smaller and with distinctive yellow markings. Often sneaks indoors via potted plants.

🟦 Brown-Banded Cockroach

A small roach that prefers drier environments like closets and electronics. Known for its telltale light brown bands.

🟨 Cuban Cockroach

A bright green, flying cockroach often found outdoors. Attracted to lights and sometimes enters homes through open windows.

🟫 Florida Woods Cockroach

Large, slow, and nicknamed the “stinking cockroach,” this species is usually found in outdoor wooded areas.

🟧 German Cockroach

Tiny but dangerous, the German roach is a notorious indoor pest, commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms.

⬛ Oriental Cockroach

Dark, shiny, and slow-moving — this moisture-loving species is often found in sewers and crawl spaces.

🤎 Smokybrown Cockroach

A sleek, uniformly brown roach that thrives in warm, humid climates — especially attics and sheds.