Oriental Cockroach
Scientific Name
Blatta orientalis
Habitat
The oriental cockroach is most common in dark, damp basements, but is known to climb water pipes to the upper floors of apartment houses.
Life Cycle
The female may carry the brown egg capsule for 30 hours with up to 16 eggs laid in
the capsule. The average number of nymphs to hatch per egg capsule is 14.4. Each female
deposits an average of eight capsules. The egg capsule is deposited in some warm sheltered
spot where food is readily available. In this species the female cockroach gives no
assistance to her newly born young. At room temperature, the incubation period averages
60 days. The developmental period for the oriental cockroach is 12 months, during
which the insect undergoes 7 molts. The adults appear in May, June, and July, and
the nymphs are more and more evident during summer months. Adults usually do not mature
during the months of October, November, and December. The oriental cockroach is less
wary and more sluggish than other cockroaches. It often travels through sewer pipes
and lives on filth. It may enter the home in food packages and laundry, or merely
come in under the door or through air-ducts or ventilators. This cockroach prefers
to feed upon starchy foods.
Description
Approxiametly 1 inch long and dark brown to black in color.
Control
Please contact your local county extension office for current information.