The American Cockroach is the largest of the species and is spread throughout the world. This is commonly found in commercial and large buildings such as restaurants, grocery Stores, warehouse, bakeries and anywhere food is prepared and stored; in moist, shady, hollow trees, wood piles and mulch. During the day it responds negatively to light, rests in harborages close to water pipes, sinks, baths and toilets where the microclimate is suitable for its survival.It is reddish-brown in colour with a yellow band as an outline. The male is larger than the female, but both have wings and can fly short distances in search of food and shelter.These cockroaches enter house easily by passing under the doors or flying through the open windows and ventilation areas in search of water and food.
| Common name | American Cockroach |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Periplaneta Americana |
| Size | Approximate 28-43 mm |
| Nymphal development | Approximate 4-15 months |
| Able to fly | Yes |
| Habitat | Hiding in water pipes, sinks, baths and toilets where microclimate is suitable. |
| Life span | 1 to 1½ years |
Egg:Female American Cockroaches lay their eggs in a hardened, purse-shaped egg- case called an ootheca. On an average, they produce one egg case once in ten months, laying 16 eggs per case. It deposits the ootheca near a source of food, sometimes gluing it to a surface with a secretion from her mouth. The deposited ootheca contains water, sufficient enough for the eggs to develop without receiving additional water from the substrate. The egg case is brown when deposited and turns black in a day or two. It is about 8 mm long and 5 mm high.
Nymph: When the egg hatches an adult emerges out of it. The number of molts varies from 6 to 14. in the first stage.Iimmediately after hatching, it is white then becomes a greyish-brown. After molting, in the subsequent stage, the nymphs are white and then turn reddish-brown with the posterior margins of the thoracic and abdominal segments being of a darker color. The Wings are not present at this stage and wing pads become noticeable in the third or the fourth stage.
Adult:The adult American cockroach is reddish brown with a pale brown or yellow band around the edge of the pronotum. The male American cockroach is longer than the female because their wings extend 4 to 8 mm beyond the tip of the abdomen. The male Cockroaches have cerci with 18 to 19 segments, while the female cockroach cerci have 13 to 14 segments. Male and Female cockroaches have a pair of slender, joint cerci at the tip of their abdomen.The total Life Span is appx 1 to 1½ years.
