The
Oriental cockroach is found in all parts
of the United States and is also
referred to as the black beetle or shad
roach. They measure approximately 1 ¼"
in length for females and 1" for males.
In addition to being longer than the
males, females are broader. Females have
small wing pads while males have wings
that cover ¾ of their body. Neither sex
can fly. Their color ranges from dark
brown to black and they have a greasy
appearance. In some parts of the world,
such as Great Britain, the Oriental
cockroach is the most widespread
cockroach; however, in the U.S., they
are not nearly as prevalent as German
roaches.
After becoming impregnated, the female
carries an egg capsule for about 30
hours before depositing and attaching it
near a food source or protected surface.
In room-temperature conditions, the eggs
will hatch an average of 16 nymphs after
60 days. After that, the nymphs molt
7-10 times. The nymphal stage usually
takes several months to a year to
complete. The warmer the temperature in
which the nymphs live, the shorter the
amount of time it takes for them to
mature. Unlike other cockroach species,
the Oriental cockroach generally has a
seasonal development cycle. This means
that the peak number of adults appears
in the late spring or early summer and
that the adult population decreases
greatly by late summer or early fall.
Oriental cockroaches usually have a life
span of a half year.
It is also interesting to note that
Oriental cockroaches possess an
abundance of "cockroach odor," the odor
that is associated with cockroaches and
much despised.
Unlike German cockroaches, Oriental
cockroaches are usually found at ground
level or below. Oriental cockroaches are
sluggish and lack the cushion-like pads
between their claws to climb smooth,
vertical surfaces. For this reason, you
do not often see them above ground
level. They are found near decaying
matter, both indoors and out. Outside,
they can be found in yards, dumps, crawl
spaces, flowerbed mulch, and beneath
leaves. Indoors, they are common in
sewers, drains, and basements. They are
seldom found in walls, upper floors of
buildings, or in cupboards.
In many areas, Oriental cockroaches are
found outdoors when it is warm. If a
drought or cold weather occurs, they
will move into buildings seeking
shelter.
Oriental cockroaches eat all kinds of
filth including garbage, decaying
organic matter, and the contents of
discarded tin cans. If none of these
options are available, they can survive
on just water for a month. If no food or
water is available, they can survive for
approximately two weeks.
Generally, if you have an infestation of
Oriental cockroaches, it is due to the
location that you are in. Damp places,
as mentioned before, are conducive to
these roaches. Factors that contribute
to infestation include having a damp
basement or crawl space or being located
near infested sewer lines or areas that
have a lot of outdoor decaying organic
matter.
It is also possible to acquire these
roaches by unwittingly carrying them
from an infested area in a package, bag,
or anything else that a roach can hide
in.
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