cockroaches
characteristics: the most common species of cockroaches are the American cockraoch (Periplaneta americana) and the Australian cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae). Periplaneta americana is about 35-40 mm in size, red to brown coloured. They produce egg parcels, 8-10 mm big, containing about 15-20 eggs. This species mainly occurs in zoological gardens or outdoors in (sub)tropical regions. Its food consists of animal or human waste. Periplaneta australasiae is 30-35 mm. in size and is more dark coloured than P. americana. P. australasiae has a yellow band across its fore-wings. Females produce egg parcels, each parcel containing 20-25 eggs. This species mainly occurs in botanical gardens where it can eat from the plants or the roots. a third species that is encountered rather often in botanical gardens is the surinam cockraoch, Pycnoscelus surinamensis. This species mainly lives in the ground, eating from the root system of the plants. All developmental stages are dark brown to black. Adults are about 20 -25 mm. in size. This species is giving birth to living young, so it does not produce egg parcels. the life cycle of a coackroach has 3 stages: egg - nymphal stage and adult. Development from egg to adult takes about a year at 20 - 25ºC. Most cockraoches deposit their egg parcels after they have carried it for 1-2 days with them at their abdomen. Egg parcels are often deposited on stems, pot ridges or against a wall, almost always on a rough surface. Cockraoches that produce egg parcels can be controlled with the parasitic wasp Aprostocetus hagenowii. Cockraoches that carry their egg parcels with them cannot be controlled with this parasite. Eggparcels of the cockraoch will hatch within 1-3 months, depending on temperature and humidity. natural enemies: Aprostocetus hagenowii hosts: many plant species and waste materials, often in botanical and zoological gardens. Outdoors in (sub)tropical regions. |
