Latin Name:
Blatta orientalis
Appearance:
Dark brown and about 1-inch long.
Habit:
Common outdoors; often enters buildings through sewer pipes. Tends to live near the ground and in warm, damp areas.
Diet:
Eats anything, but often found feeding on garbage, sewage and decaying organic matter. Seems to prefer starches, if available.
Reproduction:
Egg capsules contain 16 eggs. Females will produce an average of eight capsules. Nymphs go through seven molts before becoming adults in about a year. Adults can live up to six months.
Other:
Also known as "water bugs" or "black beetles." More sluggish than other species, gives off a distinctly unpleasant odor.
