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Oriental Cockroach
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Oriental Cockroach

Order: Dictyoptera

Family: Blatellidae

Pest Status: Oriental cockroaches are pests in homes and other buildings.

Appearance: An adult has a flattened oval shape; spiny legs; and long, filamentous antennae. These cockroaches are shiny, dark brown or black, and large (1 to 1 1/4-inches long) and have nonfunctional wings incapable of flight.

Life Cycle: Females carry their egg capsules for a day or two and deposit them in sheltered areas. The eggs hatch within two months and the nymphs develop in about one year.

Where to Collect: These cockroaches are most common in summer and develop in damp basements and sewers. They are usually not found in cupboards, on walls, or on upper levels of buildings. They prefer high-moisture conditions.