German cockroach
The German cockroach, known scientifically as Blattella germanica, is a small insect measuring up to 1/2 inch (1.1 cm) in length, characterized by its slender, flat, yellowish-brown body featuring two dark stripes along its thorax. Despite its name, this species is not native to Germany but is believed to have originated in northern Africa. German cockroaches are typically found in warm environments, such as behind kitchen cabinets and under floorboards, and are primarily nocturnal, foraging for food at night. They are omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of substances, including plant matter, household foods, and even paper products.
Reproduction involves the female emitting a pheromone to attract a mate, leading to fertilization and the laying of 30 to 40 eggs in a protective capsule known as an ootheca. The eggs incubate for about 28 days before hatching into pale, immature cockroaches. Although they face threats from predators and human pest control measures, they possess agility that allows them to quickly escape danger. German cockroaches have a lifespan of five to seven months and are considered common household pests. While they are not endangered, their presence can raise health concerns due to their potential to spread germs.
On this Page
German cockroach
The German cockroach is also known as the steamfly or the shiner. Like the American cockroach, which does not inhabit America, the German cockroach is not native to Germany. Scientists suspect that both the American and German cockroaches originated in northern Africa.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Ectobiidae
Genus: Blattella
Species: Germanica
The German cockroach comes into the world as a pale white insect. Although it resembles its parents, it does not have wings and does not gain its color until it is a few hours old. This pale, flightless insect grows and develops by a process known as molting. The young German cockroach molts by growing a new, larger body beneath the outer layer of its current body. It then breaks out of its hard, dead outer layer and moves and grows in its new body. This process repeats itself until the young German cockroach is fully grown with fully developed wings.
The German cockroach grows to a maximum length of 1/2 inch (1 1/8 centimeters). Its slender, flat body is yellowish brown with two dark brown stripes along the thorax, or middle section of its body. Like other insects, the German cockroach's body is divided into three well-developed segments. Those segments are the head, thorax, and abdomen, or lower part.
In spite of the German cockroach's name, this creature is not native to Germany. Scientists believe it may have originated somewhere in northern Africa. Today, the German cockroach is almost as common as the common cockroach, or Oriental cockroach. It is often found in warm places such as behind kitchen and bathroom cabinets and under floorboards.
Although the majority of its diet is plant matter, the German cockroach is not a picky eater. Feeding on whatever plant or meat products are available, the German cockroach is truly omnivorous. In houses and other buildings, the German cockroach feeds on household foods such as breads and cereals, as well as paper products such as wallpaper, bookbindings, and loose paper. Although the German cockroach rests during the day, it awakens at night to forage for food in the dark. This habit of sleeping during the day and being active at night is known as being nocturnal.
The mating process between German cockroaches begins with the female German cockroach releasing a chemical called a pheromone. The female releases this chemical to attract her mate. Once the male and female are together they begin the mating process by touching each other's antennae. After rubbing antennae, the male German cockroach fertilizes the eggs in the female's pouch. These eggs are neatly arranged in two rows of egg bundles. After the eggs are fertilized, the female deposits them onto the ground in a tough capsule, or ootheca. The ootheca usually contains around 30 or 40 cockroach eggs. These eggs have to develop for an average of 28 days before the young, white German cockroaches hatch.
The German cockroach is threatened by other insects, spiders, reptiles, amphibians, and humans. As a common household pest, the German cockroach is in danger of being sprayed by harsh insecticides which have been developed to rid homes of such germ-spreading insects. The German cockroach is also threatened by human traps, such as roach motels, set to appear as food and which then poison the cockroach. Although the German cockroach has little natural defenses against poisons, it can protect itself against some other animals. With its flat body and its strong legs, it can quickly outrun its predator and slip to safety between small cracks and crevices.
The life span of the German cockroach is between five to seven months. The German cockroach is not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“German Cockroaches: Photos & Control Information.” PestWorld.org, 2024, www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/cockroaches/german-cockroaches. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.
Valles, Steven, et al. “German Cockroach - Blattella Germanica (Linnaeus).” Entomology and Nematology Department, entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/roaches/german.htm. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.