The largest home-infesting species in the area, American cockroach adults grow to between one and a half inches and two inches in length. Photo of an American cockroach against a ruler for scale Males have long wings that extend past the tips of their abdomens, while females’ wings are about the same length as their abdomens. Wing length varies between male and female American cockroaches. This trait helps to separate them from beetles that may look like cockroaches.Ĭlose-up image of an American cockroaches back From the side, you can see that cockroaches have exposed wings rather than wings covered by a hard outer casing. American CockroachĪmerican cockroaches are large insects with flattened, reddish-brown bodies and matching wings. Check out the photo gallery below for some useful cockroach identification tips. Since other insects and even different cockroach species vary in their habits and habitats, identifying an infestation ensures the most effective pest control tactics for the job. It’s easy to mistake lookalike pests such as beetles and crickets for cockroaches. However, differences in their appearance like color, size, and wing length distinguish each type. These pests have many similar features, including flat, oval bodies, long antennae, and six spiny legs. Of the 55 types of cockroaches that live in the United States, only five in the Mid-Atlantic region can thrive indoors.