Bug Identifier
Oriental cockroach (likely)
Community identification

Oriental cockroach (likely)

Blatta orientalis

Order & Family
Blattodea, Blattidae
Size
About 18–30 mm (0.7–1.2 in) long.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark places such as drains, basements, crawl spaces, mulch, and beneath debris. Common around buildings, especially in humid conditions.

Diet & Feeding

An opportunistic scavenger that consumes food scraps, decaying organic matter, starches, and various household residues.

Behavior Patterns

Mostly nocturnal, flightless, and fast-moving; it hides in cracks by day and emerges to forage at night. Females produce ridged egg cases (oothecae) in protected locations.

Risks & Benefits

Can contaminate food and surfaces and spread allergens or microbes mechanically, though it does not usually bite. It also helps decompose organic matter outdoors.