Blattella germanica
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Source: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series - IPM Images
Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) - (German cockroach)
The species is a wide-spread and common pest in houses and stores which also produces allergens. Further, German cockroaches are mechanical vectors of many pathogens. The allergens are mainly proteins found in cockroach feces, saliva, eggs and shed cuticles, which become incorporated into household dust.
The species has a world-wide distribution and is one of the most common household pests. It can also live outdoors in tropical areas. In the south-eastern U.S. German cockroaches are regarded as the third major domestic pest, after mosquitoes and ants.
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Deutsche Schabe Küchenschabe |
| • English: | German cockroach |
| • Español: | cucaracha alemana |
| • Français: | blatte germanique |
| • Português: | baratinha |
The adults do not fly although they have wings and are mostly nocturnal. They are omnivorous and consume items like food, any other types of organic material, paper or toothpaste. For control, sanitation is recommended, apart from the use of a suitable insecticide. Sticky traps are useful for monitoring.
The adult is about 1½ cm long and very flat. The colour is light brown with two dark dorsal stripes along the thorax and abdomen. Females develop egg cases, each containing 30-50 eggs. The life cycle from egg, through 6-7 nymphal stages, to mature adult lasts about 6 weeks.
For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.
- Other images of Blattella germanica (IPM Images - click to enlarge)
female with developing egg case
egg case and nymphs
nymph
adult
adult
