German cockroaches are the most common indoor roaches. Adults are easy to identify by their light brown or tan color and the two black horizontal stripes located on the pronotum (behind the head that runs the length of the body). They are 13 to 16 millimeters in length. The nymphs (babies) are darker (almost black in color). The adults have wings but rarely fly. They prefer to run. They are found in kitchens and bathrooms and are usually brought into the home in used appliances, boxes or cardboard containers. In apartments or condos, the cockroaches can spread through walls by using the shared plumbing and electrical wires as run ways.

German cockroaches are scavengers capable of feeding on any food. They will even feed on toothpaste and the bindings of books. They reproduce at an alarming rate. Female German cockroaches only need to mate once for the production of young. After mating they will produce 4 to 6 egg cases during their life time with each egg case containing around 30 to 40 eggs. They begin life as eggs and then nymphs. They can develop in 100 days. Adult German cockroaches can live anywhere from 100 to 200 days. They are nocturnal. If you are seeing German cockroaches during the day, the building or unit is infested and should be treated as soon as possible.