Appearance

• Color: The field cockroach looks similar to the very common German cockroach , grayish to olive-brown with two brown to black stripes on the top of its head.
• Size: About 1/2 inch long.
• Identification: To make a personal identification, look at the face of the field cockroach. If you can see black stripes between the eyes, it is a field cockroach because German cockroaches do not possess these stripes.

Behavior

Unlike many other cockroach species, field cockroach adults do not shy away from light and are active during the day and may also be attracted to lights in and around homes at night.

Habitat

Originally from Asia, Blattella vaga has been introduced into the Southwestern United States, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of southern California. Within this region, field cockroaches are most common in irrigated areas. Leaf litter and other types of outdoor plant debris are their preferred habitats.

Life Cycle

Field cockroaches go through three developmental stages eggs, nymphs, and adults. Adult field cockroach females carry their eggs in specialized cases, with each egg case generally containing from 30 to 40 eggs. Field cockroaches complete a life cycle in about 90 days.