Oriental cockroach (Waterbug)

Blatta orientalis

Appearance

• 1"-1 3/16" long.
• Dark brown to black in colour.
• The wings undeveloped in female and cover ¾ length of the abdomen in the male.
• Runs rather than flies.

Lifecycle

• Females deposit 16 eggs in an ootheca (egg case).
• Hatch in 2 months.
• Nymphs take 5 – 9 months to develop into adults.

Habits

• Buildings. Can tolerate lower temperatures than other cockroaches so can also be found outdoors, on rubbish tips etc.
• Nocturnal.
• Omnivorous.