9 Bugs That Look Like Cockroaches (With Photos)

Having been in a trap house-like apartment before, my heart sinks when I see small bugs that look like cockroaches. I actually double-check them to make sure that I don’t have a family of cucaracha in my casa. It’s actually kind of crazy to see how many bugs look like cockroaches. Wondering what the most common ones are?

Waterbugs, bed bugs, beetles, and crickets are the insects that look like cockroaches, but aren’t. It’s worth noting that palmetto bugs and faux “water bugs” are the same thing as cockroaches, but are used to describe Oriental roaches and Florida roaches respectively.

If you recently saw something that looks creepy and roach-y crawling around your home, you probably are curious about what they are and what you should do to get rid of them. This article is going to hopefully help you out on all fronts.

So, there are real waterbugs and fake ones. Real waterbugs are highly unlikely to be in your home, but it can still happen. The photo above is a picture of a real one. These have legs that are more paddle-like than an actual cockroach. They also tend to have rounder, flatter bodies.

Waterbugs, as the name suggests, are mostly found in water. (Shocking, I know.) Unlike roaches, these bugs can live up to 4 minutes underwater. You probably do not have these in your home unless you live next to a swamp. Or something. They also tend to grow far bigger than roaches, with a maximum length of four inches.

For your sake, I hope that this is not what you have in your home. This is a bed bug, and they are one of the only insects that actively, exclusively feast on people. They are notoriously hard to get rid of and can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Bed bugs are going to be a nightmare to get rid of.

They are much smaller than roaches, which is why they are mistaken for baby roaches. They are small, flat, and light brown in most cases. If they just ate, they almost look like ticks and take on a deeper color. If you find these in your home, call an exterminator immediately.

Everyone who sees wood-boring beetles tends to assume that they are cockroaches. These beetles tend to have a smaller size than a roach, and also may have yellow and white markings. As their name suggests, these beetles tend to live and eat wood.

If you have noticed strange bugs crawling out of newly-eaten holes in your wood, then you may have wood-boring beetles. This is a problem, since most houses are made of wood and they can cause structural damage in certain situations. Call an exterminator and grab some diatomaceous earth.

So, I decided to put these two together because they look exactly like cockroaches to most people and because they act similar in nature. Both of these bugs are large, dark brown or black, and have noticeable antennas on their heads. (Longhorns, like the one pictured above in pupa and adult stages, have VERY long antennas.)

Though they look insanely similar to roaches, there is one major difference here: the size. These bugs are massive. Like, four to five inches long, massive. They like palo verde woods, rose bushes, and other plant life. People food doesn’t attract them, but occasionally, they will wander in homes and scare the shit out of people who live there.

Both of these beetles can be a bother to trees, to the point that they can actually kill them if too many start eating them. If you see these in your nearby forest, you might want to contact authorities to see if they can do anything.

Asian longhorned beetles are not like most of the other beetles on this list, primarily because it’s highly unlikely that you’ll mistake them for roaches. However, stranger things have happened. These have stark black and white markings on their adult bodies. That’s what differentiates them as adults. As pupae, they’re pretty similar-looking to roaches.

For the most part, these bugs are not going to be harmful to humans. Trees, on the other hand? Yeah, they will kill them pretty quickly. Asian longhorn beetles, much like the beetles above this, tend to feast on trees that we really need to survive.

If you see these in your homes, squish them. If you see these on the trees near your home, call your local environmental office to see if they can spray down your trees.

Rounding out our bunch of beetles is the common ground beetle. These bugs look a lot like black roaches, with the exception that they tend to have “teeth” on their heads. These tend to have blacker markings than cockroaches, and are more likely to just make burrows near your home. They are not big into indoor life.

Like almost all other beetles, these bugs are strictly vegetarian. So, they are not going to cause an infestation in your home. If you see one wandering about, catch it and let it outside. Or squish it. I’m not going to tell you what to do on that front.

If you grow strawberries or other plants outside, you already are well-acquainted with these pests. May beetles, also commonly known as June bugs, are a pest that loves to eat up fruits and vegetables during the hot summer months. They also tend to look like really small cockroaches with a more “bubbled” appearance.

The good news about these is that they don’t like to stay indoors and that you can usually get rid of them by letting them fly (clumsily) away. These bugs do not like the indoors since there is no vegetation there to eat, and they also don’t bore holes in wood. Unless you left out moldy potatoes in your cellar, there’s no need to panic.

The bad news is that your vegetable garden probably will want to have a word with you if you don’t install a June bug trap near it.

Crickets run the gamut from the tiny and green to the large and brown. It’s the large and brown ones that people tend to mistake for roaches—at least from far away. Obviously, there are a couple of major differences here. These tend to have larger back legs and differently-shaped heads.

Of course, the biggest difference is the noise they make. Cockroaches are either silent or make an awful hissing noise. Crickets make a chirping noise by rubbing their legs together. If you find crickets in your home, then you might have an issue. Crickets love dampness and might actually propagate in basements.

Diatomaceous earth is a good way to get rid of them. There are also some cricket traps you can use in order to get rid of them en masse.

This is a bit of a stretch, sure, but it’s still something that could be mistaken for a cockroach if you are partially blind or see them from afar. These are termites, and they are actually pretty different from roaches. I mean, they’re a lot smaller than roaches are (unless they are young) and have disproportionately larger heads with pincers on the front of them.

Termites are not a good thing to see in your home, primarily for the same reason that wood-boring beetles aren’t a good thing. These bugs are notorious for eating wood structures, especially if it’s dried wood…like the stuff that your home is made out of.

If you have termites, it’s best not to try to fix this yourself. You may need to call an exterminator and your homeowner’s insurance company. In some cases, the infestation could have caused a bit of structural damage to your house.

So, this is a bit confusing for many people. Waterbugs are a legit group of insects that are not roaches. They exist on water. Cockroaches, though, are often called waterbugs. This is particularly true when we’re talking about Oriental cockroaches, like the ones pictured above.

Real waterbugs are going to have paddle-like legs and will not hiss at you. Moreover, they also do not like staying in houses. Cockroaches love damp (but not watery) environments. If you hear someone tell you that it’s a waterbug and the “waterbug” hisses, call an exterminator. You’ve got roaches.

While the term “waterbug” tends to suggest that you have Oriental roaches, the term “Palmetto bug” tends to suggest that you have American cockroaches. This term can actually refer to a number of different subspecies, including the Florida Woods cockroach as well as the Smokeyhouse cockroach.

The reason why they are called “Palmetto bugs” is that these types of cockroaches tend to hang out in palmetto leaves and trees when they’re out in nature. When they wander into homes, they basically drop interest in palmetto and start gaining interest in your food.

If your neighbors insist that your bugs aren’t roaches, but palmetto bugs, it’s important to recognize that they might not realize that this is a separate species of roach. So, don’t take them as stupid. They might just want to assuage your worries. Regardless of what their intentions are, it’s best to call an exterminator.

Note: Certain types of palmetto roaches often travel alone, especially if they are Florida roaches. Even so, you should try to call a professional.

If you are in a bind for money, the next thing you are going to have to do is get roach killer. Raid makes several different types, including a spray and a fogger. Unfortunately, people who have sensitive lungs or senses of smell will find this to be a bit too pungent for their taste.

Another option you can try before you run to the exterminator is to use diatomaceous earth, or DE. This is a natural item that dehydrates and kills all insects, roaches included. Since it’s literally crushed up shells, roaches cannot actually develop a resistance to them.

Still going with the fumigating option? Well, there are a few things you should know. The first is that you should wait a while before you allow pets and kids in your home post-fumigation. Secondly, it’s worth noting that foggers don’t always hit the areas where roaches and other buggers tend to hide. So, you may need to do multiple passes.

Note: If you found roaches in an apartment, call your landlord immediately. It’s the landlord’s burden to bear by law. They’re required to give you a livable home, pest-free.

Let’s say that you can’t figure out what the insect in your home (or hands) is. If you’ve run through the list of bugs mistaken for roaches without much success, then it’s time to take a pause. If it’s still not a roach and it’s not a waterbug or anything else, it could be an invasive species that aren’t native to the US.

When in doubt, it may be a good idea to ask your landlord, an exterminator, or even animal control for help. You might be able to find out what’s going on and hopefully put a stop to an infestation before it starts.

Related Questions

Why are roaches considered to be a health hazard?

Roaches are pests that carry diseases and can taint food supplies pretty quickly. This is why most restaurant critics are particularly leery of restaurants that have a roach problem. Their very presence can cause food poisoning.

Why did I get roaches?

This can happen for a wide array of reasons. The most common reason is that you left food out one too many times, or because there is an issue with sanitation that needs to be addressed. Other reasons include roaches fleeing a neighboring apartment as well as roaches randomly walking in from the outdoors. Most of the time, it’s not your fault.

Which is worse, bed bugs or a roach infestation?

By and large, most people would agree that a bed bug infestation is worse than a roach infestation. Bed bugs are exceptionally hard to get rid of once they have made a home in your house. They also happen to be a serious health issue that can cause rashes throughout your body from bites as well as a mild form of PTSD.Both bed bugs and roaches come with a serious social stigma. However, bed bugs take the cake as far as health issues go.