German cockroach

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German cockroach

German Cockroach
(Blattella germanica)

Conservation status

Secure

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Family:	Blattellidae
Genus:	Blattella
Species:	B. germanica

Binomial name

Blattella germanica
Linnaeus, 1767

Female German cockroach with ootheca.

The German cockroach or Croton bug (Blattella germanica) is a small species of cockroach, measuring about 1.3 cm to 1.6 cm (1/2" to 5/8") long. It can be tan through brown to almost black, and has two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is unable to sustain flight.

The German cockroach is one of the most common and prominent household cockroaches in the world, and can be found throughout many human settlements. These insects are particularly fond of inhabiting restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, and nursing homes. In colder climates, they are found only near human habitats, since they are not very tolerant to cold. However German cockroaches have been found as far north as Alert, Nunavut.^[1]

The German cockroach is originally from Asia and very common in Russia, not in Germany. It is very closely related to the Asian cockroach, and to the casual observer they appear nearly identical and may be mistaken for the other.

This cockroach can be seen in the day occasionally, especially if there is a large population or if they have been disturbed. However, sightings are most commonly reported in the evening hours as they are most active at night.

1 Pest Control
2 Diet
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Pest Control

The German cockroach is very successful at establishing an ecological niche in buildings, and is very hardy and resilient towards attempts at pest control. This is because they produce a large number of nymphs for each egg case, that there is a short period between birth and sexual maturity, and their ability to easily hide due to their small size. The mother also carries the egg case (called an ootheca) with her during the germination period, rather than depositing it like other species, a practice which would leave them vulnerable in a human habitat against zealous attempts to wipe them out.

This cockroach is also smaller than many other species so it can more easily hide and fit into very small cracks and crevices to evade humans. That is also the main reason why they can most effectively be controlled with bait in cracks and crevices near harborages. These type of pest control methods should kill 95% of the overall population in a property due to their fast birth cycles.^[2] The German cockroach, discounting the presence of pets, has few natural predators inside a human habitat.

The German cockroaches thigmotactic nature compounds any pest control treatment. The immature cockroaches will live off excretions and moults from the adult cockroaches and thus can remain hidden away from most surface treatments.^[3]

[edit] Diet

The German cockroach is omnivorous and a scavenger. They particularly like starch, sugary foods, grease and meats. In certain situations where there is a shortage of foodstuffs, they may eat household items such as soap, glue and toothpaste or they may even turn cannibalistic, often chewing on the wings and legs of each other.