German cockroach, Blattella germanica
(Blattodea: Blattellidae)

The German cockroach is the most important pest species of cockroach in the United States, as well as the world. It is about 1/2 to 5/8 inch (13-16 mm) long as an adult. Nymphs and adults of both sexes have two dark stripes behind the head. German cockroach adults have wings, but do not fly. The abdomen of females is broad and the end of the abdomen is more rounded than the male. The male has a narrow cigar-shaped abdomen under the wings. Males raise their wings above their bodies while courting females.

Females produce four to eight egg cases (oothecae) in her lifetime, each of which contains 30 to 40 eggs. Development time from egg to adult varies considerably, depending on temperature and humidity. Adults live from 100 to 200 days. Generally there are three to four generations a year, but there may be as many as six under ideal conditions.

German cockroaches live in close contact with humans. This species prefers to live first in kitchens and then bathrooms of homes and apartments. However, they will occur wherever people eat and drink. They are also commonly found in restaurants, supermarkets and hospitals and will feed on almost anything edible.

The Asian cockroach is almost identical in appearance to the German cockroach, but lives outdoors in lawns and leaf litter.

Images

To save the Web-optimized images shown below to your hard drive:

PC users: right click to "Save Picture (or Image) As..."
Mac users: click and drag to your desktop.


Adult male German cockroach, Blattella germanica.
(Photographer: P.G. Koehler, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


Adult female German cockroach, Blattella germanica.
(Photographer: P.G. Koehler, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


Adult female German cockroach, Blattella germanica, with
ootheca.
(Photographer: J.L. Castner, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


Adult female German cockroach, Blattella germanica, with
ootheca.
(Photographer: R.W. Baldwin, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


Adult German cockroach, Blattella germanica, recently
molted.
(Photographer: J.L. Castner, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, with nymphs
hatching from ootheca (egg case).
(Photographer: J.L. Castner, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, one-day-old nymph
(dorsal view).
(Photographer: C. Montero, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, seven-day-old
nymph (dorsal view).
(Photographer: C. Montero, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, 14-day-old nymph
(dorsal view).
(Photographer: C. Montero, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, 21-day-old
nymph (dorsal view).
(Photographer: C. Montero, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, ootheca (egg case).
(Photographer: R. Martyniak, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.


German cockroach, Blattella germanica, egg cases
(oothecae).
(Photographer: J.L. Castner, University of Florida)

Click to access Display and Print quality images.



Return to Index


Copyright © 2005 University of Florida