There is perhaps no pest feared as much as a cockroach. Homeowners lose their minds when they think their home has been infiltrated with cockroaches or when they see a type of bug resembling a cockroach. That said, the truth is that a lot of the time, in Canada, what we think of as a cockroach turns out to be something else.
When most people think of a cockroach, they’re thinking of either a standard American cockroach, as it’s called, or a German cockroach. A cockroach can be anywhere from a half-inch to two inches in size. They are brown or reddish-brown. Many cockroaches have a shine and a hard outer shell to protect their wings. Their wings sit tightly against their backs.
Here is some key information on the types of bugs that look like cockroaches and how to identify them compared to a cockroach.
Type #1: Crickets
Crickets are roughly the same size as a cockroach. The difference is that a cricket’s colour is far darker. Crickets are black. They also make a repetitive chirping noise that repeats. Cockroaches make no noise and are silent. If you see something that looks like a cockroach except it’s jumping, crickets do that, and cockroaches don’t.
Furthermore, cockroaches prefer indoors, while crickets prefer to hide outside in laws or gardens. If you are new to Canada, in many cases, it’s not a cockroach but a cricket.
Type #2: Beetles
Beetles have short legs and an antenna. They are not a cockroach, but you may think they are if you know little about pests. Beetles are rounder and rarely bite; there are many varieties, i.e., carpet beetles, click beetles, and more.
A carpet beetle, for example, will feed on animal fibres. Some beetles are invasive and can destroy property. In some ways, a beetle infestation can be worse than having cockroaches on the premises.
Type #3: June Bugs
June bugs are extremely common and are sometimes mistaken as cockroaches. June bugs are a type of beetle. They are about an inch long, have a reddish-brown colour like a cockroach, and are usually active at dusk.
June bugs don’t want to hurt you and don’t bite. They’re usually found at windows, clinging to screens, and flying around lights. Their backs are higher and more rounded than a cockroach, which is slightly flatter and less stocky.
Type #4: Palmetto Bugs
Palmetto bugs are typically found near palmetto trees in the Florida region but have recently been found in Canada. While a cockroach, palmetto bugs behave slightly differently than the average roach. Palmetto bugs, scarily, can fly. They can bite but are very, very unlikely to.
Palmetto bugs are attracted to bright lights, and they’re usually drawn to tree holes, mulch, and landscaping materials. Palmetto bugs prefer to live in warm, damp conditions like the average cockroach.
Type #5: Giant Water Bugs
Giant water bugs are very, very similar to cockroaches. In some parts of the world, giant water bugs are called cockroaches. They’re almost identical. Giant water bugs are of a similar size and colour to cockroaches. The real big difference is the habitat.
Giant water bugs are typically found near a water source, compared to cockroaches, which enjoy dark basements and sewers. Giant water bugs are also almost a full inch across and are far wider than a cockroach, which is narrower.
Type #6: Bedbugs
Few people will mistake a bedbug for a cockroach; however, they’re a pest we thought worth including here. Bedbugs are just as annoying as cockroaches but are a whole different pest. They’re worse in a lot of ways. Bedbugs are much smaller at only a fifth of an inch in size. They do bite and will bite in clusters of three.
Bedbugs hide in beds, furniture, and materials and are incredibly difficult to eradicate. If you are dealing with extremely small pests, they’re not a cockroach but will need some professional pest control attention.
Type #7: Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers take on a similar shape to a cockroach and have the long legs found on some. However, that’s where the similarities end. Grasshoppers are green or brown. The colour alone is a giveaway.
Despite the colour differences, grasshoppers are still mistaken for cockroaches surprisingly frequently. While cockroaches are known to be fast runners, grasshoppers use their long hind legs for jumping and typically stick to grass and plants.
Type #8: Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs are black and red bugs. They are not a beetle or a cockroach. Boxelder bugs are almond-shaped and get their name from the boxelder tree. They can fly short distances and typically feast on plant secretions and seeds. They don’t bite and won’t destroy anything.
It’s not recommended to kill Boxelder bugs as their red guts can leave a stain when squashed, and spraying insecticides to eliminate them does more harm than Boxelder bugs ever could.
