Cockroach

The four species of common household roaches A, the German roach, or Croton bug, Blattella germanica (length 9/16 inch). B, the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (length 1 3/8 inches). C, the Australian cockroach, Periplaneta australasiae (length 1 1/4 inches). D, the wingless female of the Oriental roach, Blatta orientalis (length 1 1/8 inches). E, the winged male of the Oriental roach (length 1 inch)

Description

General name for flat, oval-shaped brown insects of the family Blattidae. They are common household pests and can grow to 9 cm long. Cockroaches are nocturnal and sensitive to light. They have highly sensitive antennae that enable them to detect tiny amounts of food and moisture. Their ability to sense air movements allows them to flee from danger. Both the nymphs and adults feed on almost anything, such as starchy, sugary, and proteinaceous foods. They will eat cloth that is sized with starch or glue. Common desiccating powders such as Boric acid, Dri-die and Sulfur are used along with pesticides to exterminate cockroaches. Pyrethrin powder is also commonly used but it is most effective as an attractant and knock-down agent, not as as Insecticide.

See also American cockroach, Brown banded cockroach, German cockroach and Oriental cockroach.

Common cockroaches

Comparison of Cockroach Oothecae

Risks

Can produce surface erosion on many types of materials

Resources and Citations

• Museum Pests [website]

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, A Guide to Museum Pest Control, FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• G.Caneva, M.P.Nugari, O.Salvadori, Biology in the Conservation of Works of Art, ICCROM, Rome, 1991