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Asian Cockroach (Blattella asahinai)
Identify it, prevent it, and know when to call. A South Florida guide from Pro-Spray.
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What Is an Asian Cockroach?
The Asian cockroach looks almost exactly like the German cockroach, the small kitchen roach that breeds inside homes. The difference is where it lives. Asian cockroaches are outdoor insects. They live in leaf litter, mulch, shady ground cover and lawns, and at dusk they take flight toward lights. That's why homeowners suddenly see small tan roaches on screens, lanai walls, sliding glass doors and countertops near open doors.
It was first identified in the United States in central Florida in the 1980s and has since spread through much of the state and the Southeast.
Asian vs. German Cockroach: How to Tell Them Apart
Even experts have trouble telling them apart by sight. Asian cockroaches have slightly longer, narrower wings, but behavior is the most reliable clue:
- Where you see them: Asian roaches are found outdoors in landscaping and lawns. German roaches stay indoors near kitchens and bathrooms.
- Flight: Asian roaches fly readily and are attracted to light. German roaches almost never fly.
- Timing: Asian roaches appear around dusk near lights and open doors. German roaches hide when lights come on.
- Breeding: Asian roaches don't usually establish indoors. German roaches breed inside and build up in cabinets and appliances.
Getting the identification right matters because the treatments are completely different. Baiting kitchen cabinets won't stop roaches that are flying in from the yard, and outdoor treatment alone won't stop German roaches breeding inside.
Life Cycle and Habits
Females carry their egg case until shortly before hatching and deposit it in leaf litter or mulch. Nymphs develop outdoors in moist organic matter. Adults are most active around sunset, when they fly toward light sources. They feed on plant material, decaying organic matter and other small insects.
Signs of Asian Cockroaches
- Small tan roaches on lit windows, screens and doors in the evening
- Roaches landing on you or on outdoor furniture at dusk
- Many roaches in mulch beds or ground cover when you rake or water
- Roaches inside near doors and windows, but not breeding in cabinets
Is it dangerous?
Mostly a nuisance that flies indoors; they don't usually breed inside.
Why They Show Up in South Florida Homes
Thick mulch, ground covers like perennial peanut and ferns, leaf litter under hedges and well-watered lawns all give Asian cockroaches ideal outdoor habitat. Bright porch lights and pool cage lights draw them right to the house, and they slip inside through open doors and gaps in screens.
Prevention Tips
- Switch exterior lights to yellow "bug" bulbs or use motion sensors.
- Close blinds in the evening so indoor light doesn't draw them to windows.
- Keep doors closed at dusk and repair torn screens.
- Rake leaf litter and thin out mulch close to the house.
- Trim ground cover back from the foundation and doors.
How Pro-Spray Treats Asian Cockroaches
Treatment focuses outdoors: mulch beds, ground cover, leaf litter, lawn edges and the perimeter of the home where these roaches live. Granular and perimeter treatments help reduce the outdoor population. If we find German cockroaches inside, we'll treat them separately with indoor baits and growth regulators.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are small roaches flying to my porch light?
Do Asian cockroaches infest kitchens?
How do I know if it's an Asian or German cockroach?
Will indoor baits work on Asian cockroaches?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
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