Invertebrate Zoology: A Textbook - T. A. Dauda 2014

Multicellular Animals
Arthropods
Subphylum Tracheata - Class Insecta - Orders with Incomplete Metamorphosis - Order Blattodea

There are approximately 3.5 thousand known species of cockroaches. In nature, they inhabit grass, leaf litter, and various other environments, with a significant number of species living in southern latitudes. Especially well-known are the species that have adapted to coexisting with humans in residential buildings: the Oriental cockroach, the German cockroach (prusak), and the American cockroach (Fig. 64). They are primarily nocturnal.

The body of a cockroach is flattened. The forewings, or tegmina, are chitinous, protecting the hind membranous wings which typically fold fan-like. In females of certain species (such as the Oriental cockroach), the wings are underdeveloped. The hind legs are only slightly longer than the fore and middle legs. They possess chewing mouthparts. Most cockroaches feed on hard plant matter, while those living in human dwellings are omnivorous.

Female cockroaches enclose their egg clutches in special protective capsules known as oothecae, carrying them at the tip of the abdomen for a period before depositing them in a secluded, warm Location. Development in the Oriental cockroach is prolonged and depends on environmental conditions; incubation can range from one year to several years, and the entire life cycle from egg deposition to the adult stage may take 4–5 years.

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Fig. 64 Cockroaches:

1 — German cockroach (prusak); 2 — Oriental cockroach.

The German cockroach is much more commonly found indoors, noticeably displacing the Oriental cockroach. This is because the German cockroach has proven more adaptable in the Struggle for Existence. Its small size allows it to hide in cracks and crevices, while its high reproductive rate (females lay up to 50 eggs) and more rapid development give it a significant advantage in colonizing new habitats.

The German cockroach poses a public health risk as a vector of infectious diseases.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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