Explore this informative article to learn more about different Types of Bugs That Look Like Cockroaches but aren’t!
There are some bugs that people often mistake for roaches. Knowing the difference will help you find out how to eliminate them. Clear your doubts by reading this article about Types of Bugs That Look Like Cockroaches.
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What is a Cockroach?
With more than 4,600 species, cockroaches are major household pests that pose a significant health hazard. They are available from black to reddish-brown in color. A flattened oval body, long threadlike antennae, and six legs are some of the physical characteristics of a roach.
Types of Bugs That Look Like Cockroaches
1. Giant Water Bugs
At first glance, the giant water bugs look quite similar to roaches because of their body structure and color. But the roaches and water bugs both are quite different. Giant water bugs have four legs, while roaches have six. Roaches have antennae, but water bugs own claws.
2. Bed Bugs
People often mistake bed bugs for German roach nymphs. This is because they share the same color, size, and wingless body. However, beg bugs have a round oval-shaped structure and shorter antennae.
3. Fleas
Another bug often recognized as a German cockroach nymph is fleas due to their appearance. But there are some key differences like roaches have wings, but fleas have not. Fleas are parasites, while cockroaches are opportunistic omnivores.
4. Longhorn Beetle
Also known as longicorns, the longhorn beetle is a large family of beetles. Sometimes this bug is wrongly identified as a roach because of its long antennae and body structure. However, many differences exist, such as color and habitat.
5. Palo Verde Beetle
Endemic to the Southwestern United States, the palo verde beetle resembles a cockroach in body shape, size, antennae, and legs. Sometimes it’s hard to identify them at first glance, even for trained eyes. It’s one of the types of bugs that look like cockroaches.
6. Wood-Boring Beetle
Wood boring beetle is a family of beetles that eat and destroy wood. Besides the color, this bug looks like a cockroach due to the same antennae length, six legs, and oval-shaped bodies.
How To Tell if a Bug Is a Cockroach?
By reading these characteristics, you can easily find out if a bug is a cockroach or not.
- Dark reddish-brown to black body color.
- Two ocelli and long, slender antennae.
- Small head and a broad, flattened oval-shaped body.
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