Periplaneta americana

Characteristics –

The American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also known as the Palmetto Bug or Waterbug particularly in the southern United States, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. It is native to the Southern United States, and common in tropical climates.

Human activity has extended the insect's range of habitation. Specimens have been observed in eastern North American cities as far north as New York City, Toronto, and Montreal, though its intolerance to cold restricts it to human habitations. Global shipping has transplanted the insects to world ports including Tenerife (Spain), Southern Spain, Greece, Taiwan, and Cape Town and Durban, South Africa. The insect is believed to have originated in Africa, but had become established in the southern U.S. by the time that it was given its name.

American cockroach adults grow to an average length of around 1 ½ inch and about ¼ inch tall. They are reddish brown and have a yellowish margin on the body region behind the head. Immature cockroaches resemble adults except that they are wingless. The insect can travel quickly, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room, and can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size. It is considered one of the fastest running insects, about 3 mph. It has a pair of large eyes each having over 2000 individual lenses thus making it a very active night animal that shuns light. American cockroaches generally prefer to live in moist areas. They prefer warm temperatures and do not tolerate cold temperatures. In residential areas, these cockroaches live in basements and sewers, and may move outdoors into yards during warm weather, oftentimes living under ground cover. These cockroaches are common in basements, crawl spaces, cracks and crevices of porches, foundations, and walkways adjacent to buildings. They have been known to fly, but this is rare.

They are scavenger that feed on decaying organic matter and a variety of other foods. It is particularly fond of fermenting foods. Adult cockroaches can live up to one year, during which females produce an average of 150 young.

Due to their large size and slow development, large infestations of these insects are not common within houses. However, in the winter they may move indoors, seeking warmer temperatures and food.