Cockroaches feed on a variety of foods, with a preference for starchy and sugary material. They will also feed freely on book bindings, sizing, innerlinings of shoe soles and dead insects. They carry debris on their legs and bodies and may spread germs and contam- inate food. Cockroaches also give off an offensive odor that may ruin food, or may persist on dishes or other items the roaches run over. There are four types of house-infesting roaches that are commonly seen in New York State.
Cockroaches have a broad, flattend shape and six long spiny legs.
They are dark brown, reddish brown, light brown or black and the adults of most species have wings. American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. These roaches are reddish brown to dark brown in color. They develop in damp basements and sewers, and forage mostly on first floors of buildings. Brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa.