German Cockroach - The Australian Museum

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Fast Facts

• Classification Genus Blatella Species germanica Family Blatellidae Order Blattodea Class Insecta Subphylum Uniramia Phylum Arthopoda Kingdom Animalia
• Size Range 1.5 cm

Introduction

The German Cockroach, which originally came from Africa, is the smallest of the pest species.

Habitat

IThe German Cockroach is the hardest pest cockroach to get rid of and is the most troublesome in Sydney. It can be found anywhere in the home but is probably most common in the kitchen, frequently inside cupboards, drawers and electrical appliances.

Distribution

The German Cockroach is found throughout Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

The German Cockroach eats almost anything but prefers starchy foods like potatoes, rice and cereal.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The German Cockroach is also the most sociable of the pest species and is often found in large groups, especially near warm areas like water heaters.

Life history cycle

Females carry an egg capsule containing 30 - 48 eggs at the end of their abdomen. When the eggs are close to hatching, the females attach the capsule in a dark corner where the young can emerge safely. One female German Cockroach can produce up to 20,000 young annually.

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden

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