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Australian Wildlife

  German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)





German Cockroach | Blattella germanica photo
German Cockroach

Image by David Monniaux - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

German Cockroach | Blattella germanica photo
German Cockroach

Image by Baltazaren - License: Public Domain.    (view image details)







GERMAN COCKROACH FACTS

Identification
The German Cockroach is pale brown with two longitudinal streaks on the front part of the thorax. Adults have wings but rarely fly. They are mainly nocturnal. Young are similar to adults but wingless and dark brown (almost black), with a single lighter stripe down the middle of the back. Dense populations can leave an unpleasant small.

Size
length 12mm - 16mm

Habitat
The German Cockroach is an insect pest found in homes, shops, food processing plants, restaurants etc. It prefers warm, humid environments. It shelters in cracks and crevices and avoids light. In buildings, it is found close to food and water in kitchens and other food handling areas. It is readily moved to new habitats in food packages and boxes.

Food
Omnivorous scavenger. Prefers fermented foods. Adults can live for about a month without food provided that water is available. Nymphs die within 10 days without food.

Breeding
The female lays eggs in an egg case called an Ootheca). She carries egg case until the eggs are ready to hatch. There are about 30-48 eggs in the eggs case which hatch after about 28 days. Adults lifespan is up to 1 year.

Range
The German cockroach is one of the most common pest cockroaches in the world. It is originally from Asia,



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Blattodea
Family:Blattellidae
Genus:Blattella
Species:germanica
Common Name:German Cockroach