The term "water bug" is often the nickname for an indoor roach called the Oriental co*ckroach (Blatta orientalis) but there's also a true water bug (infraorder Nepomorpha) that prefers to stay outdoors. Oriental co*ckroaches earned their nickname because they tend to hang out in wet environments, including parts of your home. They travel to higher floors in apartment buildings by use of the water pipes and they prefer moist, dirty hiding spots such as garbage chutes and sewage pipes. Oriental co*ckroaches do not cause structural damage but severe situations can lead to a distinctive, musky, "roachy" odor.
Warning
Because they hang out in such nasty environments, Oriental co*ckroaches carry diseases such as gastroenteritis. Their droppings and cast skins can cause allergic and asthmatic reactions in sensitive individuals. If you are dealing with a co*ckroach situation, be sure to use proper PPE (personal protective equipment), and don't be afraid to call a professional if you need help.
What Do Water Bugs Look Like?
The answer to this question depends on whether you are discussing the Oriental co*ckroach or the true water bug. Generally, though, anything called a water bug is tan to dark brown, with a rounded or beetle-like shape, and a hardback. However, an Oriental roach has antennae and a true water bug will have pinchers in front of its head.
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What Causes Water Bugs?
It's rare to have a true water bug in your home. However, Oriental co*ckroaches (widely known as water bugs) can enter the home in a variety of ways:
- Being carried in on food packages
- Coming in with laundry from the laundromat
- Crawling under the doorway
- Climbing through air ducts
- Scaling water pipes
Large populations of Oriental co*ckroaches have been found in garbage chutes and in dark, damp areas where they can hide and find moisture, especially in a crawlspace or basem*nt with an unresolved leak. They are not likely to wander far from their harborage area. This means that if you're finding them feeding inside, they're likely hiding nearby, too.
Signs of Water Bugs
Remember, if you're finding water bugs inside, you're likely dealing with Oriental co*ckroaches, not true water bugs. You may be noticing the following signs:
- Sighting black insects around the home
- A wet, musty odor
- Egg casings left around your house
If you have a severe Oriental co*ckroach issue, you're likely seeing the pests themselves inside your home. They repopulate incredibly quickly. Adult females can live anywhere from 34 to 181 days. During this time, they lay an average of eight egg casings (sometimes up to 18 casings), with each casing containing an average of 14 baby roaches inside. Oriental co*ckroach females deposit their egg casings near food sources, so keep that in mind while you're searching.
Tip
If you are experiencing a co*ckroach issue and you live in an apartment, it's important to get the entire building involved in control efforts. co*ckroaches can quickly become a building-wide issue. There's a chance the co*ckroaches you're seeing came from a different unit to begin with. Involving the entire building (including management) will give you the best chance of tackling the issue once and for all.
6 Ways to Get Rid of Water Bugs in Your Home
Address Sanitation Issues
Oriental co*ckroaches (also known as water bugs, though they are not true water bugs) stick to three main food groups: garbage, drain scum, and other grimy things.
When trying to deal with Oriental co*ckroaches, seek to clean up any possible food and water sources. This includes addressing garbage piles, cleaning out garbage chutes, scrubbing drains, and even raking up leaves from around the foundation of the building. If it's something that could provide an Oriental co*ckroach with rotting organic material or moisture, it needs to go.
Fix Leaks Quickly
Given their nickname, "water bug," it's clear these creepy crawlies seek to be near water sources. Make sure you're not providing any water for the co*ckroaches around your home. Large numbers of Oriental co*ckroaches have been known to pop up in basem*nts, crawlspaces, and even in garages where water accumulates, so reduce the chances of co*ckroach activity around your home by fixing leaks quickly.
Not only will this reduce water sources for these water bugs, but moisture-damaged wood can attract other pests, as well.
Seal Them Out
Oriental co*ckroaches have been known to hang out in wall voids and empty spaces around decks. If you have found them around, take the time to seal off any areas they are accessing with caulk. This will help reduce the likeliness of them making their way into your space.
Keep Plants and Shrubs Maintained
This may not seem like a priority, but keeping the shrubbery and plants around your home trimmed back is one of the best things you can do to avoid attracting water bugs, co*ckroaches, and other types of pests. When plants and shrubs are allowed to grow too close to the house, they can block vents. This restricts airflow and can create moisture issues under your home. To avoid creating a local insect watering hole under your house, make sure your vents can properly circulate air.
Perform Chemical Treatment
There are numerous chemical treatments available when it comes to co*ckroaches. If necessary, many homeowners can attempt chemical control by starting with co*ckroach bait. Baits can be very effective against co*ckroaches, especially when placed correctly.
Remove Possible Food Sources
Avoid leaving out any excess food or food-related debris that could become food sources for water bugs. Clean up excess pet food once your pets are done eating. And finally, stay on top of your dirty dishes or at least rinse them throughly if you don't have time to clean.
True Water Bugs vs. Oriental co*ckroaches
If you're finding these pests inside, they're most likely Oriental co*ckroaches, not true water bugs. Still, knowing precisely whether you're dealing with true water bugs or oriental co*ckroaches inside can help you better address the issue.
True Water Bugs
Commonly confused with co*ckroaches due to their similar appearance, true water bugs are tan to brown and primarily live in slow-moving bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, or creeks where vegetation is present. They need this vegetation for harborage and hunting, and they can grow to be more than 4 inches long depending on the species.
Also known as electric light bugs, these insects are drawn to lights left on at night and will occasionally end up in a swimming pool or backyard pond during their nighttime flights toward a distant porch light. They rarely seek shelter indoors; it's just that they tend to follow the moisture, which may accidently lead them indoors.
If by rare chance you do have a true water bug in your pool, be careful. The giant water bug is also known as the "toe-biter," as it is likely to bite between the toes if stepped on. Due to the paralyzing venom it uses for hunting, its bite can be incredibly painful and can cause lasting damage to some individuals.
Oriental co*ckroaches
These pests are commonly referred to as water bugs because of the damp areas they choose to hide in. While technically very dark brown, their appearance is so dark that it has earned them another common nickname: the black beetle. If you are finding water bugs inside, especially if there's more than one of them, you're likely dealing with Oriental co*ckroaches.
These insects are slow, do not climb very well, and are not nearly as skittish as other types of co*ckroaches. The males have fully developed wings but do not fly, and the females do not have fully developed wings, though you can see a small node where the wing would be attached.
True Water Bugs
Typically found outside
Live in slow-moving bodies of water
Tan to brown
Has pinchers on its head
Oriental co*ckroaches
Found indoors more often
Live in damp areas
Very dark brown
Has antennae on its head
How to Prevent Water Bugs
Reduce pest activity around your home by making sure lights (exterior and interior) are turned off at night when not in use. Not only will this reduce the chances of any type of water bug landing in your pool or pond, but it will also reduce general flying insect activity around your home as well as the spiders that come hoping to catch a late meal.
When to Call a Professional to Treat a Water Bug Infestation
If you have a severe Oriental roach or even a rare true water bug issue in your home and you don't think baiting will be enough to control it, it may be time to call in a professional pest expert.Be sure to find a licensed company that specializes in Integrated Pest Management.
FAQ
How hard is it to get rid of water bugs?
Getting rid of water bugs is fairly difficult, especially if the infestation is moderate to severe. It's critical that you act quickly before things get out of hand.
What kills water bugs the quickest?
Boric acid is one of the strongest methods at water bug removal, as it kills them on contact.
What's the difference between Oriental co*ckroaches and other co*ckroaches?
Oriental co*ckroaches are black, shiny, and about one inch long. They can survive in much colder conditions than other co*ckroaches.
Do water bugs bite?
Some types of true water bugs, part of the infraorder Nepomorpha, do bite, and their bite can cause damage. Oriental co*ckroaches do not bite, but they should be addressed quickly. They can carry disease and cause allergic reactions.
