bugs that look like cockroaches but aren’t
Andrew Walker
Updated on May 15, 2026
Common bugs that look like cockroaches, and, therefore, are often mistaken for roaches, are crickets and water bugs as well as beetles such as the ground beetle, wood-boring beetle, Palto Verde beetle, and Asian Long-Horned beetle.
How do I know if a bug is a cockroach?
Shared Traits Among Cockroach Species
Each one has the telltale oval-shaped body, which is common to all cockroaches.The bodies appear flattened and range between ¾ inch and 3 inches in length.Most are reddish-brown but will look whitish for a short period of time just after molting.
Do palmetto bugs infest?
Yes, they infest homes with a very favorable environment. You know you have a palmetto bug infestation after analyzing palmetto bug droppings, eggs, shredded skins, and a few of them in all hidden and damped places in your house like behind sinks drawers, appliances, bathroom shelves, etc.
How do you control palmetto bugs?
Use an insecticide—Common insecticides that are effective against palmetto bugs include chemicals like cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, or bifenthrin. When using insecticides, always wear protective clothing and a face mask, and keep them away from children, pets, and food prep areas.
What is a palmetto bug look like?
What do they look like? Palmetto bugs are reddish-brown cockroaches that are usually about 1.5 inches long. They are the biggest of the cockroaches that frequently invade people’s homes. Although these cockroaches have wings, they are not very good at flying but will glide from one surface to another.
Is it a roach or waterbug?
Cockroaches are typically light tan to dark brown in color, while waterbugs are tan to black, but their colors won’t be of much help. Their bodies are oval-shaped and flat, and both species have antennae and wings. Waterbugs have piercing mouth parts and a short, pointed beak on the underside of the head.
How do you tell the difference between a cockroach and a palmetto bug?
These pests can grow up to 3 inches long! There is no difference between a palmetto bug and an American cockroach. Palmetto bug is simply a regional term used to refer to this cockroach. Palmetto bugs are American cockroaches.
What are the big brown bugs that look like roaches?
Many beetles are brown, which increases their resemblance to cockroaches. The ground beetle and the June bug are two harmless beetles often mistaken for roaches. Crickets are brown to black in color.
How do I know what kind of cockroach I have?
The brown-banded cockroach is about one-half of an inch in its adult stage. Female roaches are dark brown, while the males are a golden-tan. Both male and female brown-banded roaches have light-colored bands across their wings and abdomen. Male roaches fly if disturbed, but female roaches do not fly at all.
Does one palmetto bug mean more?
Palmetto bugs are almost always in groups. If you see one palmetto bug, that means there are usually more–often many more; palmetto bugs usually show up in large groups, as in hundreds or thousands.
Why do I keep finding palmetto bugs in my house?
Any type of access to food and water increases your chances of attracting palmetto bugs. If you have leaky faucets or pipes in the house, you have an increased likelihood of an infestation. Any type of food or food waste left out could also be attractive to a palmetto bug, including pet food.
How long can a palmetto bug live in a house?
It might look like it’s flying at you but, really, a cockroach just wants to fly away. How long do palmetto bugs live? Adult palmetto bugs usually live for a little over 200 days, depending on the environment and how easy it is to find food and water.
How do you find a palmetto bug nest?
Palmetto bugs like moist, humid areas. In your home, you’ll find them in your bathrooms, kitchen (under sinks, behind dishwashers, and under refrigerators), attics, and crawlspaces. Outdoors you’ll find them around septic tanks, trash bins, and in mulched gardens, leaf litter, and trees.
What smell do palmetto bugs hate?
Palmetto bugs hate the smell of plants like mint leaves, catnip, bay leaves, cinnamon bark, pandan leaves, garlic, lemons, coffee grounds, and bitter cucumber. Roaches also hate the smell and taste of a few essential oils like neem, tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, etc.
What states have palmetto bugs?
“Palmetto Bug” is a common name often used to describe various species of cockroaches and some beetles found in the Southeastern United States, particularly South Carolina and Florida.
Is there a water bug that looks like a roach?
Is a Water Bug a Cockroach? The water bug is a bug that looks like a cockroach, but isn’t technically part of the roach family. A true water bug is—true to name—an aquatic insect that lives in the water. Waterbugs hold their breath for a long time without resurfacing.
Does palmetto bug bite look like?
Palmetto bugs bites look like
Palmetto bugs bite look like a red spot which is not bigger than 1 half inches in most of the cases. After a cockroach bite, the area gradually starts to turn red.