Be careful

Brown-banded cockroach

Supella longipalpa

Also called brownbanded cockroach, TV roach

Brown-banded cockroaches do not bite, but like other house roaches they can carry germs and leave allergens that can trigger asthma and allergies.

Photo: Johannes S., CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

SizeAbout 13–16 mm (1/2 to 5/8 inch), about the same as a German cockroach

Where in the houseBedroom, living room, closets, windows and walls, kitchen

WhenYear-round indoors; females produce more egg cases in summer. Active at night.

Check these features

Small, light brown to golden tan body
Two pale or yellowish bands across the wings and body
A dark, bell-shaped mark on the shield behind the head instead of two stripes
Males are slimmer with wings covering the body; females are darker and broader with shorter wings
Small egg cases glued to the undersides of furniture, ceilings and high on walls

Bites and stings

Does not bite people. The concern is allergens from droppings and shed skins, which can worsen allergies and asthma, and germs on food it crawls over.

What to do

Catch or photograph one and look for the pale cross-bands, since this species hides in different places than the German cockroach and needs traps and baits placed higher and throughout the home.
Put sticky traps in bedrooms, closets, behind furniture and near electronics and appliances, not only in the kitchen, to find where they hide.
Check the undersides of tables, dressers, shelves and picture frames for small egg cases and vacuum them up with a HEPA or multi-filter vacuum.
Use bait stations in the hiding spots you find, following the product label; this species can be hard to control with baits alone, so a pest professional may be needed.

Look-alikes

German cockroachSame size, but the German cockroach has two dark lengthwise stripes behind the head and no pale cross-bands, and it stays near kitchen and bathroom water instead of high, dry spots.

American cockroachAmerican cockroaches are about three times longer and reddish brown with a pale rim behind the head.

Oriental cockroachOriental cockroaches are about twice as long, nearly black, and stay low in damp areas.

Why it came inside

Brown-banded cockroaches live indoors and like warm, dry spots, so they spread through a whole home, hiding high on walls and ceilings, behind picture frames, inside furniture and near warm appliance motors; they often arrive in used furniture or electronics with egg cases attached.

Keep it out

Inspect secondhand furniture, electronics and boxes for egg cases before bringing them home.
Store food, including dry goods, in sealed containers.
Reduce clutter such as stacks of paper and cardboard where they hide.
Caulk cracks and gaps around baseboards, cabinets and wall openings.

What helps

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Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

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Bait stations

Enclosed baits work slowly as insects carry the bait back to where they hide. Don't spray near the baits, and follow the label.

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Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

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Airtight pantry containers

Glass or thick plastic containers with tight lids keep pantry pests out of flour, cereal, rice and pet food.

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Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

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Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.