Cockroach nymph (likely American or Oriental)
Scientific Name: Periplaneta americana / Blatta orientalis
Order & Family: Blattodea: Blattidae
Size: Nymphs vary from 5mm to 20mm depending on instar; adults can reach 30mm to 50mm.
Natural Habitat
Moist, dark, and warm areas such as basements, crawl spaces, sewers, and kitchens.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavengers that eat decaying organic matter, food scraps, starch, and glue.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly agile; they undergo incomplete metamorphosis, passing through several nymphal stages before reaching adulthood.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include the transmission of pathogens like Salmonella, contamination of food surfaces, and triggering of asthma or allergies; they provide minimal ecosystem benefits in urban areas beyond nutrient cycling in nature.
Identified on: 3/10/2026