German cockroach

noun

1. a common yellowish-brown cockroach, Blatta germanica, brought into the U.S. from Europe.

German cockroach

noun

1. a small cockroach, Blattella germanica: a common household pest Also called (US)Croton bug

Word History and Origins

Origin of German cockroach¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

"Gel baits have been found by numerous studies to be very effective, at least in the lab, for German cockroach control," Gordon said.

From Salon

A team of international scientists, including Virginia Tech entomologist Warren Booth, have solved the 250-year-old origin puzzle of the most prevalent indoor urban pest insect on the planet: the German cockroach.

From Science Daily

They confirmed that the German cockroach — a species found worldwide — actually originated in southeast Asia, likely evolving from the Asian cockroach around 2,100 years ago.

From Seattle Times

The German cockroach is the pet nobody asked for but almost everyone has.

From Science Magazine

It looks almost identical to the German cockroach, although it has distinctive traits, like an attraction to light, an ability to live outdoors and the power of flight.

From New York Times