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ACE Prep · Module 5 of 11

Cockroaches

Quick answerUpdated September 24, 2026

What does ACE module 5 cover?

Cockroaches are one of the most medically important pest groups. This module covers cockroach biology, species identification by size/breeding site/egg capsule, and how these differences drive control decisions.

Key factApproximate exam weight: ~8%.

Reviewed by LTK editorial team

Must-know facts

  • Medical importance: vectors of food poisoning pathogens, respiratory infection, dysentery. Cockroach allergens are a leading asthma trigger in urban environments.
  • German cockroach (Blatella germanica): ½–⅝ inch, 2 dark stripes on pronotum, 30–40 eggs/ootheca, 2 months egg-to-adult. Kitchen/bathroom indoors. Does NOT fly. Most prolific indoor species.
  • Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa): ½ inch, female glues egg capsule to ceilings and furniture. Throughout home, not just kitchen. Does not fly.
  • Asian cockroach: Similar to German, but flies. Found outdoors in leaf litter, attracted to lights. Cannot breed indoors.
  • Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis): 1¼ inch, dark red-brown to black, short wings. Prefers cool/damp. Found in basements, sewers, crawl spaces. 1–2 years egg-to-adult.
  • American cockroach (Periplaneta americana): 1¾ inch, reddish-brown with pale pronotum edge. Sewers, basements, wall voids, attics. Strong flier. 9–24 months egg-to-adult.
  • Smoky-brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa): 1¾ inch, uniform dark brown. Outdoors — woodpiles, trees, attics, soffits. 12 months egg-to-adult.
  • Ootheca identification: shape, size, number of segments, and number of eggs help ID species. German ootheca has 15–20 segments (30–40 eggs).
  • Nymphs are coprophagic early in development (eat older cockroach feces). Young nymphs must remain near crevices and frass.
  • Control strategy differs significantly by species: German = baiting, crack & crevice treatment in kitchen; Oriental = moisture reduction, basement/crawl space focus; American = sewer entry exclusion.

What the exam likes to ask

  • If asked which cockroach is most likely in a sewer: Oriental or American cockroach.
  • An ootheca with ~18 segments = German cockroach.
  • If a cockroach account is failing pyrethroid treatments, consider resistance — switch chemical class.
  • Brown-banded cockroaches are found throughout the entire structure, not just kitchens — control must follow them.

Field takeaways

  • German cockroach populations can double every few weeks — rapid, thorough treatment and follow-up are essential.
  • Identifying species before treating tells you where to look, what to use, and whether to expect resistance.
  • Coprophagic behavior means baits placed near existing feces compete against an existing food source in fresh infestations.

Listen, watch, read

Podcast

How Cockroaches Exploit Human Architecture

Cockroach biology, harborage behavior, cryptic movement patterns, and why structural knowledge is key to control.

Slide deck · 14 slides

Structural Cockroach Diagnostic Blueprint

View the slides

Household Pests

9:44

Household Bug Detective

8:12

Module 5 quiz

25 questions. Answer them all, then grade to see the reasoning.

  1. Q1A restaurant reports large reddish-brown cockroaches coming up through floor drains at night. Which species is most likely?
  2. Q2How does a female German cockroach handle her egg capsule (ootheca) compared with most other pest cockroaches?
  3. Q3A technician finds cockroaches throughout an entire apartment — in bedrooms, living room, and kitchen. Which species is the most likely culprit?
  4. Q4Cockroach allergens are a well-documented trigger for which medical condition?
  5. Q5Early-instar German cockroach nymphs differ from later instars in that they
  6. Q6In the Southeast, small tan cockroaches with two dark stripes behind the head fly from the lawn to a lit porch at dusk. The most likely species is the
  7. Q7Which cockroach female usually carries her egg capsule sticking out of her abdomen until shortly before it hatches?
  8. Q8What does a brownbanded cockroach female typically do with her egg capsule?
  9. Q9A small cockroach has two pale bands crossing its wings and abdomen. It is most likely a
  10. Q10In spring, a technician finds large, shiny, nearly black cockroaches in a damp basement. The females have only small wing pads. The most likely species is the
  11. Q11A large reddish-brown cockroach with a pale yellowish border around its pronotum is found in a hospital steam tunnel. The species is most likely the
  12. Q12A large, uniformly glossy, dark mahogany cockroach is found in tree holes, gutters and attics in the Southeast. It is most likely the
  13. Q13Which practice most reduces gel bait performance against German cockroaches?
  14. Q14A German cockroach population that ate a particular gel bait last year now avoids it, even though monitors show heavy activity. What is the best explanation and response?
  15. Q15Under warm indoor conditions, about how long does a German cockroach take to develop from egg to adult?
  16. Q16Smokybrown cockroaches are getting into a home from heavy mulch beds along the foundation. Which approach gives the best long-term control?
  17. Q17When setting monitors for a brownbanded cockroach infestation, they should be placed
  18. Q18A homeowner near woods sees a few winged cockroaches indoors in late spring. They fly to lights at night, and no nymphs are found inside. The most likely culprit is a
  19. Q19Cockroaches spread disease-causing organisms such as Salmonella mainly by
  20. Q20To find out whether cockroaches are hiding in a deep crevice behind a commercial stove, the technician should use
  21. Q21Cockroaches prefer cracks where their bodies touch surfaces above and below. This behavior is called
  22. Q22After a juvenile hormone analog treatment, adult German cockroaches with twisted, crinkled wings begin to appear. This most likely means
  23. Q23Which pest cockroach relies most heavily on human structures, is rarely found living outdoors, and seldom flies?
  24. Q24American cockroaches keep appearing from floor drains in a building that is rarely used. A useful first step is to
  25. Q25For the best results with gel bait against German cockroaches, the technician should apply

0 of 25 answered

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