
Community identification
American cockroach (likely)
Periplaneta americana
- Order & Family
- Blattodea, Blattidae
- Size
- Adults are typically 30–50 mm long, including the wings.
Natural Habitat
Warm, humid places such as drains, sewers, basements, kitchens, and vehicle interiors. It often shelters in dark cracks and emerges at night.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavenger that feeds on food scraps, starches, grease, paper, decaying organic matter, and occasionally other insects.
Behavior Patterns
Mostly nocturnal, fast-running, and negatively phototactic, hiding when exposed to light. Females produce purse-shaped egg cases, and adults can live for many months.
Risks & Benefits
Can contaminate food and surfaces and carry allergens and microbes mechanically, potentially aggravating asthma. It contributes modestly to decomposition, but is generally considered a household pest.