Species Blattella germanica - German Cockroach

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Blattaria 9 07 09 01 - Blattella germanica - female

German Cockroach nymph? - Blattella germanica

Female, German Cockroach and ootheca? - Blattella germanica - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)

Superfamily Blaberoidea

Family Ectobiidae

Subfamily Blattellinae

Genus Blattella

Species germanica (German Cockroach)

Explanation of Names

Blattella germanica (Linnaeus 1767)

Size

Adult 13-16 mm

Range

Cosmopolitan

Habitat

found indoors

Season

Year-round

Food

Omnivorous

Remarks

Nocturnal; major pest of residential and commercial structures. Some people can develop severe allergies to cockroach parts, feces, and oils.

Females carry the ootheca for up to a month, dropping it just before the eggs hatch.

Gut bacteria released in feces produces a volatile compound of carboxylic acid; this triggers the aggregation of insects.(1)

Internet References

species account(2)

fact sheet[cite:612026]

Works Cited

1.	Insects and Their Beneficial Microbes Angela E. Douglas. 2022. Princeton University Press.

2.	Urban entomology Ebeling W. 1978. University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences: 695 pp.

Contributed by Sean McCann on 14 August, 2006 - 10:45am
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, v belov, Harsi S. Parker, Marci Hess
Last updated 12 December, 2023 - 10:43am

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