07/26/2026
The easiest way to tell them apart is:
Male Turkestan cockroach
Light reddish-brown to tan.
Long, fully developed wings that extend beyond the end of the abdomen.
Slender body.
Often mistaken for an American cockroach because of its wings.
Female Turkestan cockroach
Dark brown to nearly black.
Short wing pads that do not cover the abdomen.
Broader, stockier body.
Cannot fly.
Here are the most effective steps to help prevent them from coming in:
Seal cracks around doors, windows, pipes, and your foundation with caulk.Install or repair door sweeps and weather stripping.Reduce outdoor moisture by fixing leaks and avoiding overwatering landscaping.Remove leaf litter, wood piles, and other debris where they hide.Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and clean up pet food and spilled bird seed.Replace white outdoor lights with warm or yellow "bug" lights, since bright lights can attract insects that roaches feed on.Call GREENER PEST CONTROL to apply a residual insecticide around the exterior foundation and entry points if needed.Use sticky traps indoors to monitor for activity so you can catch an infestation early.
Unlike German cockroaches, Turkestan roaches usually live outdoors and often wander inside by accident. If you're seeing a lot of them indoors, the focus should be on exclusion (sealing entry points) and treating the exterior rather than just spraying inside.
