The Brown Cockroach, Periplaneta brunnea¹

D. R. Suiter and P. G. Koehler²

APPEARANCE

The Brown cockroach is often mistaken for an American cockroach . The adult is reddish-brown, but is somewhat darker in color. It is 1¼-1½ inch long (Figure 1); males have cerci and styli while females have cerci. The cercus of the brown cockroach is stout and triangular in shape; whereas the American cockroach cercus is long and thin.

Brown cockroach.

American cockroach.

Figure 1.

HABITAT

The Brown cockroach was first reported in the United States in 1907 in Illinois, but is well established in numerous states throughout the Southeast. While its distribution has grown during this century, it is still confined to the southeastern states. The Brown cockroach occurs mainly outdoors, under the bark of trees and in sewers.

BIOLOGY AND HABITS

The life cycle of the Brown cockroach requires 339-351 days to complete. An average of 24 (21-28) eggs are laid in each ootheca and hatch in 35 days. The egg capsules are glued onto surfaces, usually hidden with debris, and may be guarded by the female. Females can produce up to 30 egg capsules on a weekly basis. About 14-16 nymphs hatch from each ootheca. First stage nymphs have the first 4 and last 8 segments of the antennae marked with white. The duration of the nymphal stage is 263-277 days. Adults can live for 20 months.

CONTROL

Because the Brown cockroach is found outdoors, applications of insecticides to foundation plantings, wood piles, mulch, and other infested locations are recommended. Treatments placed to intercept cockroaches are both environmentally- and entomologically-sound. Residual barrier sprays have been shown to provide substantial reductions of Brown cockroach populations around houses. Power dusting of sewage lines, crawl spaces, false ceilings, wall voids, and trash chutes is an effective method of control. Space sprays, ULV treatment, or contact aerosols and sprays can be used in basements and utility rooms. Loose baits and other formulations better suited for damp locations can provide effective control in basements and similar areas.

Footnotes

1. This document is ENY234, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1991. Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. D.R. Suiter, research assistant; Philip G. Koehler, professor, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.