Brown Cockroaches
Order:
Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Scientific Name: Periplaneta brunnea
The brown cockroach is primarily tropical in distribution. In the United States, this species is found mostly in the South, from Texas to Florida, but some sightings have been made in northern states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The
brown cockroach is often mistaken for the American cockroach.
Both species are similar in appearance and habits, but upon close
examination of the cerci (a pair of dorsal appendages at the posterior
end of the abdomen), their difference is evident.
The adult brown cockroach has short, blunt cerci, whereas the American
cockroach cerci are long and thin.
As detailed in the drawing, the last segment of a brown cockroach
cercus is short and fat, compared to that of the American cockroach, which
is a least two times longer than it is wide.
Biology and Habits
The brown cockroach is capable of reproducing parthenogenetically (without fertilization by a male), but the success rate for hatching and maturation is low. The female cockroaches deposit their brownish oothecae (egg cases) within 24 hours after formation. The oothecae turn black in color soon after they are deposited. They are securely glued on exposed surfaces such as plaster and concrete, and are then camouflaged by the females with any available material from the surrounding area. Each ootheca may contain 21 to 28 eggs, and one female may produce 32 individual oothecae during her lifetime.
The brown cockroach undergoes simple metamorphosis. Development time, form egg to adult, ranges from 7 to 11 months, depending on temperature and other abiotic factors. The early nymphal instars are brown to dark brown. At maturation, the color fades to a reddish brown, with the lateral and posterior margins of the segments retaining the darker brown coloring.
Adults live an average of 8 months, with a range of 2 to 13 months. They are about 1.25 to 1.5 inches (33 to 38 mm) in length and are mostly dark reddish brown in color. The edge of the pronotal shield (part of the prothorax) may have a yellowish brown or brown band. Their wings are fully developed, with the males’ wings barely extending to the tip of the abdomen.
Brown
cockroaches normally feed on plants materials, and they prefer hot and
humid microhabitats.
Inside a structure, they commonly infest food-storage areas, basements,
and crawl spaces.
They may enter buildings through sewer pipes.
In southern states, populations may be found outdoors in leaf litter,
ground cover, trees (especially palm trees) and dump sites.
Control
Cockroach control is a five-step process: prevention, sanitation, inspection, initial insecticide application and monitoring (with additional treatment, if needed). Cleaning and replacing drain covers may prevent the movement of brown cockroaches from sewer pipes into basements. Asking the property owner to remove accumulated leaf litter may prevent outdoor populations form being established. In southern states, inspect outdoors as well as indoors. In addition, sewers may also require inspection.
Many different types of insecticides are labeled for cockroach control. Remember to review the label prior to selecting an insecticide for application. Dusts, baits, emulsifiable concentrates, insect growth regulators, biological agents, aerosols, lacquers, and microencapsulated products are examples of formulations registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cockroach control.
Strategically
placed glue traps can help monitor populations during on-site follow-up
inspections.
In the South, barrier treatments, outdoor bait placement and dusting
of sewers may be needed to control brown cockroach populations.
(Courtesy of the National Pest Control Association.)