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Order/Family: Blattodea/Blattidae
Scientific Name: Blatta orientalis Linnaeus
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Male Oriental cockroaches are 1-inch long when mature; females are
1-1/4-inches long
During her lifetime the female Oriental cockroach produces an average
of eight egg capsules, each of which contains 16 eggs
Can become very abundant in damp secluded places such as crawlspaces,
basements, water meter boxes and drains
Prefer to feed on starchy foods but will eat various other items
including decaying organic matter
Produce a very characteristic pungent “cockroach” odor
Description
Male Oriental cockroaches are 1-inch long and females are 1-1/4-inches
long when mature. Their coloring is red-brown to black. In males,
the wings cover 75 percent of the abdomen; in females, they are
reduced to small wing pads. Early nymphs are light brown but become
increasingly darker with each molt. The purse-shaped egg capsule
(i.e. ootheca) is dark red-brown but becomes black with age, is
3/8-inch long, and typically has eight eggs per side.
 Biology
During her lifetime the female Oriental cockroach produces an average
of eight egg capsules, each containing 16 eggs. The capsules are
dropped or, using secretions from her mouth, glued in protected
locations such as cracks and crevices near food sources. The nymphs
molt about 10 times before becoming adults. Depending on temperature,
this requires 206 to 800 days. Adult females live from 34 to 181
days and males from 112 to 160 days.
Habits
Oriental cockroaches are not common pests in most homes. They can
be abundant, however, in sewers and commercial facilities such as
groceries, restaurants, hospitals, and office and apartment buildings.
Indoors they can become very abundant in damp, secluded places such
as crawlspaces, basements, water meter boxes and drains. They often
are found in bathtubs and sinks because they lack the small pads
on their tarsi (i.e. last segments of the legs) commonly found on
other cockroaches, which allow them to crawl up smooth surfaces.
Outdoors, even in cold weather, they are found in planters, ground
covers, stones, leaf litter and other debris.
Control
Many types of sticky traps are available to help monitor and pinpoint
sources of infestation. Visual inspections can be conducted with
a flashlight and aerosol pyrethrin to flush cockroaches from harborages.
An effective management program depends on good sanitation. It is
critical to reduce clutter, as large cockroaches like to hide in
stacked boxes, rolled carpeting, and stored paper materials, especially
in dark, damp locations. Vacuums can be used to remove cockroaches.
Permanent reduction can be achieved by caulking to eliminate harborage
and prevent entry. It is most important to eliminate cracks at which
sinks and fixtures are mounted to walls and floors, around plumbing,
and cracks on or near food preparation surfaces. Basement floor
drains should be protected with screens or inserts which should
be cleaned regularly.
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