Several cockroach species have been documented in Louisiana, a minority of which are pests. The most common cockroach pests in Louisiana include German, American, Oriental, brown-banded and smoky-brown cockroaches. These cockroaches are more than just a nuisance within a home, as they spread allergens and disease-causing organisms. Two species, the German and brown-banded cockroaches, dwell primarily indoors, making them particularly difficult to control. All other pest species invade homes occasionally where they often maintain a long-lasting presence. However, in a wet and humid state like Louisiana, not every cockroach/es a person sees indoors is categorized as a pest. This may come as a surprise to some people, as spotting even one roach indoors is often reason enough to assume that an infestation has occurred, and identifying the species of cockroach found indoors is not always considered necessary. That being said, there are four roach species often found in Louisiana homes that pose no health threat to humans, and are not looking to set up camp indoors. These four species are not pests, but a few of them are commonly mistaken for pest species, which may prompt unnecessary calls to pest control professionals.

According to the LSU Ag Center, the Cuban cockroach, the red-legged cockroach, the September cockroach, and multiple species of woods cockroaches are not pests despite being found indoors occasionally. Woods cockroaches can be found on trees during the nighttime hours, and they are often mistaken for German cockroaches when they appear in homes due to their dark exterior and .5 to 1 inch body length. The September cockroach is also similar in appearance to a few cockroach pest species, only the September cockroach is particularly well suited for flying and a red-colored patch can be found behind their heads. This species is abundant on lawns and leaf-litter, and they are highly mobile during the day and evening hours during the summer, sometimes bringing them into homes. The red-legged cockroach is one of the most common roach species in Louisiana, and they can be identified by their conspicuous red legs for which the species is named. The Cuban cockroach is not easily confused with roach pest species on account of its lime green exterior, but they may become a nuisance during the spring and early summer when they take flight toward porch lights.

Is it normal for you to notice multiple roach species in your home during the summer months?