AMERICAN COCKROACH (Periplaneta Americana)

APPEARANCE:

Adult American cockroaches are large, active insects, measuring about 25 – 40mm long. They are a rich reddish-brown colour overall, but with a yellowish rim to the shield behind their head. They have large wings and are fully capable of flight.

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR: 

The female will lay up to around 15 oothecae (egg cases) in her life, with each ootheca containing 12 – 20 young. Oothecae are usually deposited in dark crevices, and will hatch about 6 weeks after being laid. The young nymphs are a similar colour to the adults, but are initially only about 2mm in length. They take 5 to 10 months to reach adulthood, and will moult several times over this period. Once they have reached the adult stage, they can live for up to a year or more.

During the day American cockroaches are usually well hidden in dark voids such as drains and wall cavities. However, at night, they are often seen scuttling along the floor in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, as well as outdoors on pavements. They can move quickly and are often seen darting for cover when someone walks into a room. American cockroaches feed on a very wide range of human foodstuffs, waste and faecal matter.

GERMAN COCKROACH (Blattella Germanica)

APPEARANCE:

Adult German cockroaches are about 15mm in length, and are light brown except for the shield behind the head, which is marked with two parallel dark stripes (Lengthways). Although they have wings, they do not generally fly.

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR:

During her life the female produces up to 8 oothecae, each containing around 35 young. However, instead of immediately laying each egg case, she carries it with her for 2 – 3 weeks and then eventually drops it when the young are ready to emerge. The emerging nymphs are initially 1mm long, but moult 6 times before reaching adulthood about 6 weeks later. The nymphs are wingless, and nearly black with a single light stripe running down the middle of their back. Once they have reached the adult stage, the cockroaches can live for another 4 months.

German cockroaches thrive in warm moist locations, such as kitchens, restaurants, laundries, bathrooms and similar locations. Typically, they hide in dark crevices, under work surfaces, around cooking equipment, in cupboards and even in drink dispensers. They are also capable of climbing vertical surfaces such as glass and glazed tiles. Like the American cockroach, they have a very varied diet and can eat most human foods as well as a wide range of waste organic material.

ORIENTAL COCKROACH (Blatta Orientalis)

APPEARANCE:

Adult Oriental cockroaches are large insects, measuring about 20 – 25 mm in length. They are dark brown or black in colour, with no markings. The males have wings that are about two-thirds the length of the body, while the female’s wings are very small.

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR: 

Females will lay around 10 egg cases in their lifetime, with each case containing about 15 young. The egg cases are usually deposited in dark crevices, and will hatch about 6 weeks after being laid. The young nymphs are a reddish-brown colour, are about 2mm in length, and take 5 to 9 months to reach adulthood. Once they have reached the adult stage, they can live for up to 6 months.

During the day, Oriental cockroaches are usually well hidden in dark voids such as drains and wall cavities. However, at night, they are often seen wandering on the floor in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, as well as outdoors on pavements. Oriental cockroaches feed on a very wide range of human foodstuffs, wastes and faecal material.