The Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai), is a species of cockroach that was first described in 1981 from insects collected on Okinawa Island, Japan. It is a small species of cockroach, typically long and tan to dark brown in colour with dark parallel stripes on the back of their heads. It is commonly mistaken with the German cockroach (B. germanica) for their similar appearance. It is commonly found in the United States in and around houses. Characteristics and appearance The Asian cockroach is nearly identical to the German cockroach (B. germanica) except for a few minor morphological differences. Like the German cockroach, it is about long, is tan to brown in color, and has wings. However, its wings are longer than the German cockroach, and a difference is seen in a groove in the abdomen in the two species. The quickest way to tell the difference between them is that the Asian is a strong flyer (almost like a moth) and is attracted to light, unlike the German. This species tends to prefer the outdoors, whereas the German prefers living indoors. The Asian and German look identical to the naked eye as they both have tan and dark features as well as two parallel stripes behind the head. The almost identical appearance has caused concerns and issues with the pest management industries when determining the strategies of pest control, as pesticides for the German are not always effective for the Asian. To differentiate between the two cockroaches with the naked eye, there are noticeable parts of each cockroach. The ventral surface of the left mandible, the vein coloration of the right tegmen, the wing size and venation as well as the setal marginal bristles on the cerci are the slight morphological differences between the Asian and German. History and distribution The Asian cockroach was first cited and documented in Okinawa Island, Japan in 1981 by Dr. Takayuki Mizukubo, from the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences. The introduction of the exotic Asian cockroach to the United States was in 1986 in Lakeland, Florida but at first was believed to be the German species. It is believed that the Asian came to Florida through the import of goods from Japan. On March 3, 1986, Dr Louis M. Roth received cockroaches of Lakeland, Florida from Dr Philip G. Koehler of Florida Extension Services of the University of Florida for inspection. It was noted that