If you’ve spotted a large, reddish-brown roach in your basement, garage, or near a floor drain, you’re likely looking at an American cockroach. Despite the name, this is the biggest of the common household cockroaches, often reaching 1.5 to 2 inches or more as adults. Look for a glossy, reddish-brown body with a pale, yellowish figure-eight marking just behind the head. Both males and females have full wings and are capable of short, clumsy flights, especially in warm weather — something that often startles homeowners the first time they see it.
In Los Angeles and Orange County, American cockroaches are most commonly found in and around sewer systems, storm drains, crawl spaces, basements, and utility rooms. They favor dark, damp, warm environments and often enter homes and commercial buildings through drains, pipe penetrations, and gaps around foundations. It’s common for our technicians to find them in boiler rooms, laundry areas, and beneath sinks, particularly in older buildings common throughout Downtown LA, Glendale, and the San Fernando Valley, where aging plumbing and drain lines give them easy access indoors.
Beyond the unsettling experience of finding a large roach in your home, American cockroaches are a genuine sanitation concern. They feed on decaying organic matter, and as they move between drains, trash areas, and food prep surfaces, they can carry bacteria and contaminate countertops, dishware, and stored food. Their shed skins and droppings are also recognized by public health sources as a potential trigger for allergy and asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals, particularly in enclosed spaces where infestations go unaddressed.
Guarantee Pest Control has been helping Southern California families and businesses deal with cockroach problems since 1958. As a family-owned company serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach, Torrance, and surrounding communities, we understand the drain and sewer conditions that make American cockroaches such a persistent local issue. Our technicians will inspect your property, identify entry points and harborage areas, and recommend an effective treatment plan tailored to your home or business, with eco-friendly Guarantee Green options available on request. Every service comes with a 3-month guarantee on most treatments, free estimates, and no-penalty cancellation. Call 1-800-507-3787 or request a free estimate at /get-a-quote/ to get started.