The thought of baby roaches crawling on your kitchen sink and floors gives everyone goosebumps. However, sometimes those creepy insects turn out to be bugs. But have you ever wondered if having bugs in your home is as scary as having cockroaches? Anyways, for both roaches and bugs, you have to take necessary precautions to get rid of them, else they might infest your house, and you might feel like you are living in a bug world. So in this article, we will discuss all the bugs that look like baby roaches.
What are the Most Common Domestic Cockroaches?
The common domestic cockroaches that you will find crawling around your house are –
German Cockroaches
German cockroaches are not more than ¾ of an inch. They are small torpedo-shaped, and have light brown bodies. As an adult, they have two stripes behind their head (pronotum) – which is unique to them.
They are mostly found in moist and dark areas, mostly in and around the kitchen sink and toilet, and love to live in city environments – especially in low-income areas where people do not spend much on pests.
Brown-Banded Cockroaches
Scott O’Neal, an urban entomologist at the University of Nebraska, says, “Brown-banded cockroaches are so immature that they do not even realize they’re cockroaches.” They are typically red in color with a hint of brown. They usually live in cracks and crevices in bathroom and kitchen walls.
There is a positive thing about brown-banded cockroaches – they do not really bother people – crawling all through the house, on them, or raiding their food. They are still pests, so it is important to get rid of them.
American Cockroaches
They are the largest of all cockroaches as they are 2 inches long. They have shiny oval bodies and are reddish-brown in color. They are usually in lower-floor apartments in cities and often spend time in sewers.
Smoky Brown Cockroaches
Smoky brown cockroaches are similar to American cockroaches and grow up to 2 inches long. They are slightly blackish in color and do not have enough shin on their skin. They are usually found in suburban areas and live in fallen tree stumps which can be brought home along with the woods.
Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches are often called water bugs. They are big and dark brown in color. In this species, the females do not have wings, while the males have short wings. They usually hang out in cool and moist areas – like your basement.
5 Bugs that Look Like Baby Roaches
The following are the bugs that look like baby roaches –
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be quite notorious as they feed on human blood – painful, isn’t it? They are usually wingless and are brown or red in color, and are about 9.5 mm long. They are generally yellow or translucent and might also look invisible when not fed.
They undergo incomplete metamorphosis, meaning they only pass three stages of life – eggs, nymphs, and adults. Their bites can cause redness and swelling, which can sometimes cause infections. These infections often lead to emotional distress and insomnia.
Giant Water Bugs
Giant water bugs, scientifically known as Lethocerus Americanus, belong to the order Hemiptera. Hence, are considered true bugs. They are about 2-3 inches long, but some can grow up to 4 inches long. They are dark brown with brown raptorial legs to catch things. They feed on insects, tadpoles, frogs, and other small fishes.
Just like baby roaches, they do not have antennae. Also, they do not bite humans. They lay eggs on water, and some male giant bugs carry them around until they hatch.
Palo Verde Beetle
Also known as Derobrachus geminatus, these Palo Verde beetles are part of Cerambycidae. They are brownish-black in color, have long antennae, and resemble baby roaches. The length of their grub can reach up to 5 inches and is usually creamy-white in color. They live under tree roots and are attracted to lights. Unlike baby roaches, these beetles do not live in the areas of human habitat. They prefer living in the tree roots and do not bite.
Ground Beetles
Ground Beetles are known as Carabidae. They are ⅛-½ inches long. However, they can grow up to 1 inch long. They have large eyes and jaws and thread-like antennae with long slender legs. They rarely fly and love to dwell in hidden and damp areas. They are soft like caterpillars and look like baby roaches. But, they do not carry disease.
June Bugs
June bugs belong to the subfamily of Melolonthinae and are primarily active during spring. They can grow up to 1⁄2-1 inch long. They have six legs and are dark brown in color. They have a yellow-brown head and grayish rear. Their larvae are 1/8-1 inches long and are usually cream in color.
They live and feed on tree and shrub roots and grasses and lay eggs on the turf. They slightly resemble baby roaches but are herbivores and prefer to eat plants. Hence, they are not harmful to humans and pets.
Conclusion
Bugs usually do not possess health risks, whereas baby roaches are infested and can be a leading cause of several chronic diseases. So, it is very important to identify and eliminate them. Also, getting rid of bugs is easier than cockroaches.
