Asian cockroach

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Asian cockroach
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Blattodea Family: Blattellidae Genus: Blattella Species: asahinai
Binomial name
Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, 1981

The Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai), is a cockroach. It is nearly identical to the German cockroach except for a few very minor differences, and the fact that it can fly quite well. It is about 5/8" (1.6cm) long and is tan to brown in colour, and has wings. It has longer wings than the German cockroach, and there is a difference between a groove in the abdomen between the two species.

This species usually tends to prefer the outdoors more than the German cockroach. In fact, there is some speculation the German cockroach may simply be a strain of the Asian cockroach that evolved^{[citation needed]} for indoor habitats. Asian cockroaches are attracted to light.

It can currently be found in tropical and subtropical climates, such as the southeastern United States. It has been found in central Florida and it is reportedly advancing into northern Florida. The first appearances reportedly were recorded in those areas around 1986.

The Asian cockroach has expanded its range into 8 counties in southern Alabama and 7 counties in southern Georgia (Snoddy and Appel, 2007). Its population reaches it zenith in late August and declines rapidly with the onset of cool weather(Snoddy and Appel, 2007). During adverse weather conditions such as cold weather or dry conditions the Asian cockroach will burrow down into the leaf litter (Snoddy and Appel, 2007).

According to entomologist Bob Pfannenstiel (Beneficial Insects Research Unit, Weslaco, Texas), the species feed on the eggs of lepidopteran pests of annual crops. They ventured west into Texas in 2006, and became the most common predator of bollworm eggs in the state's Rio Grande Valley region. The bollworm threatens cotton, soybean, corn and tomato crops.^[1]

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