Bug Identifier
Oriental cockroach (likely)
Community identification

Oriental cockroach (likely)

Blatta orientalis

Order & Family
Blattodea; Blattidae
Size
Adults are typically 18–30 mm (0.7–1.2 in) long; antennae can be longer than the body.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, sheltered places such as basements, drains, crawl spaces, mulch, and wall voids; it may enter buildings while seeking moisture.

Diet & Feeding

An omnivorous scavenger that consumes food scraps, starches, decaying organic matter, and occasionally paper or fabrics contaminated with food.

Behavior Patterns

Mostly nocturnal, hiding in cracks during daylight. It prefers cool, humid conditions, has incomplete metamorphosis, and females produce egg cases (oothecae).

Risks & Benefits

Can mechanically spread bacteria and contaminate food; shed skins and droppings may trigger allergies or asthma. It provides limited ecosystem value as decomposer prey for other animals.