Roaches in the RV- Asian Vs. German
06-20-2016
Author: in RV Tips & Education
The other evening my husband and I were talking to our neighbors. They know we are in pest control and the subject of insects came up. The wife asked, “So what’s the deal with the little flying roaches? I didn’t know they lived outside and I did not know they could fly! It’s creepy! They land on me while we are sitting outside at night!” This was punctuated with a shiver.
We explained, but I thought it might be worth passing the info on to you guys as well.
See, the “little flying roaches” aren’t the same species that tend to infest homes. These are different and they are not native to the United States – as if we didn’t have enough cockroach species over here.
The German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the nasty little critter that tends to invade human inhabited structures. They prefer kitchens and bathrooms because they are drawn to warm, humid environments, but in smaller dwellings or in the case of infestations, they can be found in any part of the house. The prefer the indoors and do not like light. During the day they hide in cabinets and drawers, where it is dark.
These common household pests are tan or light brown in color and are around 13 to 16 mm in length. The young, called nymphs, are almost black and much smaller. They do have wings but do not fly. They are quite portable and can be carried into a home in boxes, bags, even used furniture and appliances. They can be transferred on clothing or in purses so if your neighbors have roaches and they come over to visit they could unwittingly bring some “friends” with them – not to freak you out or anything – just thought you should know.
German roaches are known vectors for disease, carrying some pretty nasty stuff. They have also been linked to asthma.
The Asian Cockroach
Asian cockroaches are like the German cockroach’s freaky little doppelganger. They look identical (to the naked eye anyway) except they can fly. They prefer to live outdoor and like areas that are moist and shady like under leaves that cover the ground or in pine needles or mulch. They may wander indoors sometimes, usually because they are attracted to the lights, but it is not their preferred habitat. They are most active around dusk.
The Asian cockroach showed up in the United States in the mid to late 1980s. They tend to stick to the southeastern states in the U.S. They are transported in on shipments from Asian countries, especially food products. Asian countries do not have the same sanitation standards as the U.S. – I’ll leave it at that. I will also say, my husband did commercial pest control and treated many restaurant kitchens. He encountered several that carried over the more lax sanitation standards for their kitchens. I don’t eat in many restaurants anymore, especially Chinese. He ruined my dining experiences in these places, but in a way I am sort of glad.
There have not been many studies done on Asian roaches and they connection to diseases. While their outdoor habitat does allow them to come in contact with animal feces and other unsanitary material, there has not been any concrete scientific link between Asian roaches and disease – not the way it has clearly been established with German roaches.
Asian vs German – which is which?
Your first clue that you are dealing with an Asian roach is when it takes flight. There aren’t many visual clues to distinguish it from the German roach. Nonetheless, here is a quick little comparison:
Getting Rid of Roaches
Getting rid of roaches can be a real pain. They aren’t easy to eliminate, especially if you have an infestation. Roach bait often works, but beware of using insecticides because they can become immune to the chemicals. There is a great company, DIY Pest Control, that has very good products for controlling roaches. They are much better than you would get at Walmart or other stores.
Prevention is your best course of action. Keep your RV clean and stay on top of any drainage or sanitation issues. Make sure you have screens and that there are no tears or cracks around windows where insects can come in. Don’t leave food in the sink overnight and don’t leave water standing. It doesn’t take much to prevent roaches in your RV.
Have you encountered any Asian roaches? I am very interested in hearing what state you were in – to see just how widespread they are.
We explained, but I thought it might be worth passing the info on to you guys as well.
See, the “little flying roaches” aren’t the same species that tend to infest homes. These are different and they are not native to the United States – as if we didn’t have enough cockroach species over here.
The German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the nasty little critter that tends to invade human inhabited structures. They prefer kitchens and bathrooms because they are drawn to warm, humid environments, but in smaller dwellings or in the case of infestations, they can be found in any part of the house. The prefer the indoors and do not like light. During the day they hide in cabinets and drawers, where it is dark.
These common household pests are tan or light brown in color and are around 13 to 16 mm in length. The young, called nymphs, are almost black and much smaller. They do have wings but do not fly. They are quite portable and can be carried into a home in boxes, bags, even used furniture and appliances. They can be transferred on clothing or in purses so if your neighbors have roaches and they come over to visit they could unwittingly bring some “friends” with them – not to freak you out or anything – just thought you should know.
German roaches are known vectors for disease, carrying some pretty nasty stuff. They have also been linked to asthma.
The Asian Cockroach
Asian cockroaches are like the German cockroach’s freaky little doppelganger. They look identical (to the naked eye anyway) except they can fly. They prefer to live outdoor and like areas that are moist and shady like under leaves that cover the ground or in pine needles or mulch. They may wander indoors sometimes, usually because they are attracted to the lights, but it is not their preferred habitat. They are most active around dusk.
The Asian cockroach showed up in the United States in the mid to late 1980s. They tend to stick to the southeastern states in the U.S. They are transported in on shipments from Asian countries, especially food products. Asian countries do not have the same sanitation standards as the U.S. – I’ll leave it at that. I will also say, my husband did commercial pest control and treated many restaurant kitchens. He encountered several that carried over the more lax sanitation standards for their kitchens. I don’t eat in many restaurants anymore, especially Chinese. He ruined my dining experiences in these places, but in a way I am sort of glad.
There have not been many studies done on Asian roaches and they connection to diseases. While their outdoor habitat does allow them to come in contact with animal feces and other unsanitary material, there has not been any concrete scientific link between Asian roaches and disease – not the way it has clearly been established with German roaches.
Asian vs German – which is which?
Your first clue that you are dealing with an Asian roach is when it takes flight. There aren’t many visual clues to distinguish it from the German roach. Nonetheless, here is a quick little comparison:
| Asian Cockroach | German Cockroach |
| Flies | Does not Fly |
| Lives Outside | Lives Inside |
| Is Attracted to Light | Avoids Light |
| Wings are Thinner and Longer | Wings are Broader and Shorter |
| Underbelly has Tiny White Spots | Underbelly is Solid Lighter Shade |
| Usually have Dark Stripe on Head | Usually have Light Stripe on Head |
Getting Rid of Roaches
Getting rid of roaches can be a real pain. They aren’t easy to eliminate, especially if you have an infestation. Roach bait often works, but beware of using insecticides because they can become immune to the chemicals. There is a great company, DIY Pest Control, that has very good products for controlling roaches. They are much better than you would get at Walmart or other stores.
Prevention is your best course of action. Keep your RV clean and stay on top of any drainage or sanitation issues. Make sure you have screens and that there are no tears or cracks around windows where insects can come in. Don’t leave food in the sink overnight and don’t leave water standing. It doesn’t take much to prevent roaches in your RV.
Have you encountered any Asian roaches? I am very interested in hearing what state you were in – to see just how widespread they are.
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Author: Stephanie A. Mayberry
