American cockroach

Appearance

Adult is 28-44mm long, colour red brown with yellow border around pronotum, no yellow sub marginal stripes on forewings. last segment of cerci, twice as long as wide. Life History The female of the species produces 4-8 egg capsules at approx 1 month intervals. Each thick walled resistant capsule is 6mm long and contains utpo 30 eggs. The nymphs wil hatch and pass through a 5-7 moults before reaching maturity. Adults live approx for 8.5 months.

Distribution

All parts of the world. More so in tropical and sub-tropical places but are also found in ports and shipping areas in temperate climates.

Damage

Cockroaches are potential vectors of diseases such as dysentry, gastroenteritis, typhoid and polio. Their diet is omnivorous and includes fermenting substances, solid septic dressings, hair, leather, parchment, wall paper, faeces and food for human consumption.