Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

aka “black beetle”, “waterbug”

Identification

• Distribution is worldwide; survives well indoors and outdoors
• Females are approximately 32 mm in length; males are approximately 25 mm
• Coloration is dark brown to shiny black
• Males have longer wings that cover 75% of the abdomen; females exhibit very short wing pads
• Cannot fly

Habitat and Behaviour

• Is quite sluggish in nature, the major reason why they are typically found in cellars, basements, and crawl spaces—rarely on upper floors
• Lacks pads on tarsi (“feet”) that would allow efficient climbing on smooth vertical surfaces
• Is a hardy insect; can be found outdoors in cold climates, as well as indoors
• Prefers areas high in moisture
• Feeds on all types of organic material
• Is rarely seen during daytime

Lifecycle

• Undergoes gradual metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
• Nymphs are smaller versions of the adults, and will go through several molts until fully grown
• Female egg capsule (ootheca) is deposited within 30 hours of its formation, usually dropped or attached onto a surface in a protected area near a food source
• Females produce an average of 8 oothecae; each ootheca contains approximately 16 eggs
• Lifecycle, from egg to adult, is dependent on temperature, and averages 600 days
• Female has an average lifespan of 34 to 181 days, less than that of the male (112 to 160 days)