The
oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), also
known as the waterbug or black beetle, is a
large species of cockroach, adult males being
18–29 mm (0.71–1.14 in) and adult females being
20–27 mm (0.79–1.06 in). It is dark brown or
black in color and has a glossy body. The female
has a somewhat different appearance from the
male, appearing to be wingless at casual glance,
but is brachypterous, having non-functional
wings just below her head. She has a wider body
than the male. The male has long wings, which
cover two-thirds of the abdomen and are brown in
color, and has a narrower body. Both sexes are
flightless. The female oriental cockroach looks
somewhat similar to the Florida woods cockroach,
and may be mistaken for it. Originally endemic
to the Crimean Peninsula and the region around
the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, its distribution
is now worldwide.
Habitat
Oriental
cockroaches tend to travel somewhat more slowly
than other species. They are often called "waterbugs"
since they prefer dark, moist places. They can
often be found around decaying organic matter,
and in sewers, drains, damp basements, porches,
and other damp locations. They can be found
outside in bushes, under leaf groundcover, under
mulch, and around other damp places outdoors.
They are major household pests in parts of the
Northwest, Midwest, and Southern United States.
Adaptation
To thrive, cockroaches need a
place to hide. They prefer warm places and a
relatively high humidity; they also need a
source of food/liquid. The optimum temperature
for oriental cockroaches is between 20 and 29 °C
(68 and 84 °F). Female oriental cockroaches have
vestigial tegmina (reduced fore wings) and males
have longer tegmina. Cockroaches are mainly
nocturnal. Oriental cockroaches can be elusive
in that a casual inspection of an infested
dwelling during the day may show no signs of
roach activity. Oriental cockroaches can be
found in usually damp places such as sewer
pipes, sink drains, and any other form of damp
areas in households
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