Cockroach
Scientific Name: Blattodea (order), specific species could be Blattella germanica for German cockroach, or members of other genera like Periplaneta or Blatta.
Order & Family: Order: Blattodea, Family: Ectobiidae (likely, given the appearance of a German cockroach or similar small species), Blattidae, or Blattellidae
Size: Depending on the species, adult cockroaches can range from about 1.5 cm to 5 cm (0.6 to 2 inches) in length. The specimen in the image appears to be on the smaller side, possibly a German cockroach (1.1 to 1.6 cm).
Natural Habitat
Cockroaches prefer warm, dark, and humid environments. They are commonly found indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and other areas where food, water, and harborage are available. They can also live outdoors in temperate and tropical climates, under leaf litter, rocks, or logs.
Diet & Feeding
Cockroaches are omnivores and scavengers, feeding on a wide variety of food sources including human food scraps, decaying organic matter, starches, sweets, grease, and even non-food items like paper, fabric, and glue. They are opportunistic feeders.
Behavior Patterns
Cockroaches are primarily nocturnal and gregarious insects, meaning they are active at night and tend to live in groups. They are known for their rapid movement and ability to squeeze into small cracks and crevices. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis, passing through egg, nymph, and adult stages. Females lay eggs in a capsule called an ootheca, which is often carried for some time before being deposited.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include: carrying and spreading bacteria (like Salmonella and E. coli) and other pathogens, triggering allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals due to their droppings, shed skins, and saliva, and contaminating food and surfaces. There are no notable benefits of indoor cockroach infestations.
Identified on: 7/2/2025