Appearance:

• Adults – 12 – 15mm long.
• Pronotum yellow with 2 dark brown stripes.
• The wings are as long as the body or slightly overlapping on males.
• Long antennae and spiny legs with 2 anal cerci visible on females.

Lifecycle:

• Eggs – Each ootheca (egg case) is around 6mm long and contains 30 – 40 eggs.
• Females carry the ootheca until just before it hatches – some 2 – 4 weeks later.
• Nymphs – will hatch and pass through 5-7 moults before reaching maturity. This is hugely influenced by temperature.
• Adults – emerge between 2 ½ months and 6 months later usually living for around 6 months.

Habits & Behaviour:

• Being nocturnal they hide in the cracks and crevices around sinks, cookers and motor compartments of house hold appliances.
• They can scale rough and smooth surfaces.
• Mostly found in the heated areas of buildings such as kitchens and boiler rooms as they need high temperatures for optimum breeding.
• Being omnivorous they scavenge for organic material.
• They also need to be near a water source for regular drinking.
  Cockroaches are very common in commercial premises associated with the production or handling of food.
• Egg cases or adults can be transported into your premises on incoming crates, packaging and laundry.

Appearance:

• Adults – 17 – 30 mm long.
• Their colour is a dark brown almost shiny black.
• Head tucked beneath pronotum, long antennae and spiny legs with 2 anal cerci.
• It is dangerous to swat a wasp near its nest site or to attempt to remove the nest yourself, as wasps can sting repeatedly.
• The wings are undeveloped in female but on the male they cover two-thirds of his abdomen.

Lifecycle:

• Eggs – ootheca (around 5 laid at intervals by female) each contain on average 16 eggs.
• These are deposited when they are fully formed in harbourages. Incubation is 6 – 12 weeks later dependent on temperature.
• Nymphs – progress through 7-10 moults before reaching maturity. Developing into adults may take up to 18 months.
• Adults – can live up to 6 months.

Habits & Behaviour:

• Cockroaches are very common in commercial premises associated with the production or handling of food.
• Egg cases or adults can be transported into your premises on incoming crates, packaging and laundry.
• They can survive lower temperatures than other cockroaches so can also be found outdoors.
• Mostly found less cooler, less humid areas such as basements and drains.
• Oriental cockroaches can climb rough but not smooth vertical surfaces.

Important:

• Can spread various human diseases by walking over food and preparation areas.
• Omnivorous they can survive for longs periods of time on a limited food source.
• Being nocturnal could mean you do not notice them during the day.