American Cockroaches can live two weeks without water and almost a month without food. American cockroaches will eat just about anything, including plants and other insects. They live in warm, dark, wet places, because they need to be near water. They are often found in sewers and basements, around pipes and drains.

German Cockroaches are the most common cockroach in the United States. They are attracted to sweet and floury foods. They also eat non-organic items such as toothpaste and books. German cockroaches live in warm and damp places, like kitchens, bathrooms, and places where people eat and drink.

Oriental Cockroaches are large and very dark compared to other cockroaches. They prefer dirty places and cooler temperatures than other cockroaches. Oriental cockroaches feed on all types of garbage and other organic material. Oriental cockroaches also live in sewers and wet, decaying areas, such as basements and crawlspaces, firewood and piles of leaves.

American, German and Oriental cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then track through homes lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast-off skin and waste are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

(From National Pest Management Association's www.pestworldforkids.com)