Which feature is a correct description of German cockroaches?

• A. Short wings
• B. Two bands across their thorax
• C. Two dark longitudinal stripes on thorax
• D. Light markings on thorax

Answer: (C)

The feature used to identify German cockroaches is the two dark parallel stripes running lengthwise on the pronotum, the shield-like plate behind the head. This distinctive marking stays consistent as the insect matures and is the most reliable field cue to tell German cockroaches from other common indoor roaches. Other options describe traits that aren’t as diagnostic: wings can be present in both sexes but aren’t the defining feature and can vary; bands across the thorax don’t match the characteristic pattern of this species; and light markings on the thorax don’t fit the typical dark-stripe-on-a-light-brown appearance. In practice, those two dark longitudinal stripes quickly point to German cockroaches rather than brown-banded (which shows light bands across the wings) or American roaches (which are larger and have a different pronotum pattern).