americancockroach

Description:

American cockroaches (Periplaneta Americana) are often called water bugs. The American cockroach is the largest of the species common to the New York State. This species often becomes abundant in commercial establishments and is most common in the basements and steam tunnels of restaurants, bakeries, food-processing facilities, and grocery stores. American cockroaches look to enter structures through sewage and plumbing systems.

Appearance:

Adults are approximately 1-1/2 inches long and reddish brown, with fully developed wings that cover the entire length of the abdomen. Both male and female are fully winged. The wings of the male extend slightly beyond the tip of the abdomen, while those of the female are about the same length as the abdomen

Lifecycle:

American cockroaches have three developmental stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The eggs are laid in capsules that are dark brown, symmetrically shaped, and about 5/16 inch long. The female drops her egg capsule within a day after it is formed. She often drops it in a suitable location near a food source or in a protected area. Each capsule averages 14 to 16 eggs. Usually one capsule is produced each week and is often glued to a hidden surface with secretions from the female’s mouth. Each female produces from 15 to 90 egg capsules. The number of offspring per year averages 800. Under ideal conditions an adult female can live up to 15 months, males for a somewhat shorter period. Nevertheless, large populations can develop under favorable conditions.

Habits:

American cockroaches are capable of flying .The American cockroach can be identified by its large size and reddish brown color with faded yellow edges on the thorax. Indoors, the nymphs and adults are usually found in dark, warm and moist areas of basements and crawl spaces, and all around bathtubs, clothes hampers, floor drains, pipe chases, and sewers. They are also common around the manholes of sewers, and on the undersides of metal covers over large sump pumps. This cockroach is often associated with steam heat tunnels. It has also been observed migrating from one building to another during warm months. American cockroaches feed on a variety of foods, with an apparent preference for decaying organic matter. The adults can survive two or three months without food but only about a month without water.

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