These are the German, brown-banded, Pennsylvania wood, Oriental, and American cockroaches. Click on image for full-size photo. Description Oriental cockroaches are often called water bugs because of their preference for dark, damp areas such as those under sinks and washing machines, and in damp basements. This species, which is less wary and more sluggish than the others, is the most disliked of all cockroaches since it often travels through sewer pipes and lives on filth. Females are broader and appear heavier than males.
Females have small, functionless, rudimentary wings.
Males have short wings that cover only about three-quarters of their abdomen. Neither male nor female can fly. Nymphs and adults have similar habits and are found with decaying organic matter indoors and out. Indoors, Oriental cockroaches prefer dark, moist areas such as under porches, sewers, drains, crawl spaces, dark, damp basements, and floor drains. Both nymphs and adults are sluggish and are usually situated at or below ground level indoors.