American cockroach
（重定向自Periplaneta americana）
![](/Images/godic/202502/02/American-cockroach1052.jpg")
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![Underside of P. americana](/Images/godic/202502/02/Amerikanische_Großschabe_11052.JPG")
![P. americana, view from side](/Images/godic/202502/02/Periplaneta_americana_20131052.jpg")
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also colloquially known as the waterbug, but not a true waterbug since it is not aquatic, or misidentified as the palmetto bug (see Florida woods cockroach for the differences), is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. It is also known as the ship cockroach, kakerlac, and Bombay canary.