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Cockroaches are common household pests.
While they are notoriously unwelcomed guests, several other insects share similar features.
It is easy to be confused, as their doppelgangers are equally unpleasant.
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Yet, to get rid of them for good, proper identification is critical to exterminate any infestations.
There are some of the most common bugs that look like cockroaches but actually aren’t.
Heres how to differentiate them and keep your home pest-free.
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What Do Roaches Look Like
Roaches are oval-shaped insects with flat, low-lying bodies.
Their six legs are fast-moving.
They have wings and two long antennae.
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Their bodies can look shiny, and their wings fold tightly against their backs.
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Water bugs are typically brown or grayish and about 2 inches long.
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Giant water bugs are easily confused with cockroaches.
However, true water bugs are their own species.
Mixing them up is easy because they share a similar size and coloring as cockroaches.
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In some regions, oriental and smoky brown cockroaches are often mistaken for water bugs.
While roaches and water bugs are dark brown, water bugs have powerful front legs adapted for swimming.
Water bugs fly and do not have antennae.
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Water bugs have pincers to catch prey, like mosquito larvae and small aquatic animals.
The coloring is black with irregular white spots.
Their extremely long antennae curl back and appear to encircle the body completely.
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With its shiny black body and long antennae, the Asian longhorned beetle resembles a cockroach at first glance.
However, unlike cockroaches, these beetles have distinct spots on their bodies and long, banded antennae.
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Ground Beetles
Ground beetles are fast-moving insects with a flat, oval shape.
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Like roaches, ground beetles have similar dark brown or black coloration.
There are more than 2,000 kinds of ground beetles.
Also, these beetles have highly developed wings, so they are better flyers than flying cockroach species.
Ground beetles hide their wings under a protective shield, while roaches don’t.
Beetles thrive outdoors in gardens, under rocks, or in leaf litter.
While they may occasionally wander indoors, they do not infest homes like cockroaches.
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June bugs
Adult June bugs are about 12 inch long.
Their colors vary from yellow to dark brown.
They are both nocturnal insects that invade homes.
Both species can be pests when they enter residential spaces, seeking food and shelter during the night.
However, they differ significantly in appearance, behavior, and habitats.
Cockroaches typically have flattened bodies with long antennae.
By contrast, jJune bugs have an oval-shaped body, reddish-brown color, and long antennae.
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Crickets
Both insects color ranges from brown to black.
They also both have elongated antennae, but that is where the similarity ends.
Crickets prefer the great outdoors, and they are found near water sources.
Crickets typically do not infest a home like roaches.
Crickets jump and their hind legs are adapted to jumping.
Male crickets make distinctive chirping noises to attract females, while roaches are silent creepers.
While a roachs six legs are the same size, the cricket has longer hind legs.
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Bed Bugs
Bedbugs are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, with a segmented body.
They are easily mistaken for cockroach nymphs, especially baby German cockroaches, because they are reddish-brown and wingless.
However, roaches scavenge and eat just about anything.
By contrast, bedbugs feed on blood.
Stink bugs are typically brown or black.
Also, stink bugs have distinctive marbled brown coloring and shield-like shapes.
When identifying cockroaches in your home, keep this in mind.
Encountering bugs that resemble cockroaches can be alarming, but not all creepy crawlies are cause for concern.
Remember to practice good sanitation, seal entry points, and promptly remedy any signs of an infestation.
Roaches are attracted to homes because they provide food, shelter, warmth, and a water source.
