Lesser Cockroach

Blatta orientalis

Appearance

•  Males: 6-8mm; females: 5-7mm
•  Pale to dark brown, legs dark brown or black. Tegmina (leathery outer wings) are pale-yellow brown with dark speckles.

Lifecycle

•  Egg cases, know as oothecae, are produced and carried by the female for one or two days between June and September.
•  They overwinter on the ground and the nymphs hatch in the spring.
•  The nymphs hibernate during the late stages of development to become adult in May-June.
•  The adults die in September - October.

Habits

•  Adults are not easy to find.
•  These cockroaches have a preference for coastal and sandy plains.
•  Males only fly in warm weather.