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Florida is home to six common cockroach species. Treatment differs by species. Here is the complete identification guide.
1. German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
1/2 inch, light brown with two dark stripes. Indoor only. Most-difficult to eliminate. Requires gel bait + IGR.
2. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
1.5-2 inch reddish-brown. The “palmetto bug.” Outdoor primarily, invades indoors. Bifen IT perimeter treatment.
3. Smokybrown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)
1.25 inch dark brown to black, glossy. Outdoor primarily. Strong fliers attracted to lights. Treatment same as American.
4. Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
5/8 inch brown with light bands. Indoor only. Prefers warm dry areas (electronics, upper cabinets). Different placement than German roach baits.
5. Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai)
Looks like German roach but lives outdoors. Strong flier. Attracted to outdoor lights. Treatment focuses on outdoor perimeter.
6. Australian cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
1.25-1.5 inch reddish-brown with yellow shoulder markings. Outdoor primarily. Treatment same as American/Smokybrown.
Identification matters for treatment
Indoor species (German, brown-banded) require gel bait + IGR. Outdoor species (American, Smokybrown, Asian, Australian) require Bifen IT perimeter spray. Mistreating species wastes effort.
Verdict
Florida has 6 common cockroach species. Identify before treating. Indoor species + Advion gel + IGR. Outdoor species + Bifen IT perimeter. Most homes have multiple species requiring layered approach.
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