How Do Roaches Get Into Homes? | HowStuffWorks

If roaches are house hunting, they can check out your place by crawling through tiny gaps around doors, pipes, and other open spaces. Some adults can grow fairly large, but can shimmy through slits as thin as one-sixteenth of an inch (0.15 centimeters) [source: Ogg et al].

Contrary to popular belief, they aren't simply attracted to messy households, although that will extend their stay. Instead, common roaches that invade homes seek out warmth, moisture and darkness. Pizza left sitting out on the counter is just an added bonus.

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Part of the reason they've become such widespread pests is because cockroaches thrive on very little. The insects require three things: water, food and warm shelter. Roaches have lived off the bare essentials with few changes since their creation 320 million years ago [source: Ogg et al]. Even the areas they choose for nesting indoors are minimalistic — cramped spaces in walls, behind picture frames, under sinks, and elsewhere.

Once it hits you that roaches are inside your home, getting to know them is your last concern. On the next page, we'll go over the first steps on how to show any roach infestation the door.

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Roaches that Make Themselves at Home

Four cockroach species in particular inhabit homes in the United States, and knowing which one is in yours can help you plan your attack method.

• German cockroach: Proliferate quickly and usually nest around the kitchen and bathroom.
• Brownbanded cockroach: Thrive in hotter, drier regions and will nest in areas eye-level or higher inside.
• Oriental cockroach: Drawn to humid areas, sometimes referred to as water bugs.
• American cockroach: Also known as the "palmetto bug," they like hot, humid conditions.

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