Periplaneta Americana: American cockroaches from Africa in Russia
Cockroaches are one of the nasty insects that inhabit the earth. They are found wherever there are sewer systems and food. Cockroaches adapt to any conditions, especially they like human dwellings, and thanks to their ability to fly, they quickly master new territories. One of the representatives of this family is the American cockroach, which lives both in wildlife and in buildings.
Content
What does an American cockroach look like: photo
Description of the American cockroach
Name: American cockroach
Latin: American PeriplanetaClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Cockroaches - Blattodea
 | Habitats: | where is the food |
 | Dangerous for: | stocks, products, leather |
 | Attitude towards people: | bites, contaminates food |
American cockroach: photo.
The body length of an adult cockroach can be from 35 mm to 50 mm. Their wings are well developed and they can fly. Males are slightly larger than females because their wings extend beyond the edge of the abdomen. They are red-brown or chocolate-colored, shiny, with a light brown or yellow stripe on the pronotum.
At the tip of the abdomen, cockroaches have a pair of connected cerci, males have another pair of appendages (styluses), and female ootheca have a leathery egg capsule. Cockroach larvae differ from adults in the absence of wings and reproductive organs. Juveniles are whitish, becoming darker as they molt.
They multiply very quickly and conquer new territories, it is quite possible that they will soon become a mass problem.
Reproduction
Almost all species of cockroaches reproduce by mating, but in some species of cockroaches in the body of adults, eggs can mature without fertilization. The American cockroach is able to reproduce in one way or another.
One clutch or ootheca can contain from 12 to 16 eggs. For a week, the female can lay 1-2 clutches.
Larvae from eggs appear after 20 days, they are also called nymphs. The female lays them in a comfortable place, gluing them to her own secretions from her mouth. There is always food and water nearby.
The duration of the developmental stages of a cockroach depends on many factors. Under favorable conditions, this period lasts about 600 days, but can stretch up to 4 years in the absence of good nutrition and low humidity and low temperature in the habitat. Nymphs molt from 9 to 14 times and after each molt they increase in size and become more and more like adults.
Both larvae and adults live in the same colony, and in the first weeks of life, adult females take care of the larvae. Although these insects are practically not threatened, they survive even in the most extreme conditions.
Habitat
American cockroach close-up.
In wildlife, American cockroaches live in the tropics in rotting wood, palm trees. In other regions greenhouses, heating mains, sewer communications, tunnels, drainage systems became their favorite place of residence.
In human dwellings, they settle in basements, toilets, ventilation ducts. But often they get there after rains or in the cold. American cockroaches prefer to coexist with commercial establishments. They are often found where food is prepared or stored. They prefer to live in:
- restaurants;
- bakeries;
- repositories;
- grocery stores.
Food
American cockroaches feed on leftover food, fresh vegetables and fruits, cloth, garbage, soap, pieces of skin. Any organic waste can serve as food for them.
A hungry scavenger will even feed on feces. But when there is enough food, he will prefer sweets. Will not give up:
- fish;
- of bread;
- hair;
- animal entrails;
- corpses of insects;
- book bindings;
- leather shoes;
- papers;
- nuts;
- groceries;
- feed for animals;
- crumbs;
- leaves;
- mushrooms;
- wood;
- algae.
Omnivorous animals do not go without food and can live without food for about 30 days, because they have the ability to slow down their metabolism. But without water, they die after a few days.
Lifestyle features
Americans have nicknamed this species of cockroaches "palmetto beetles". This name is due to the fact that they are often visible on trees. They love sunny beds and warm sunny areas.
Their feature is the tendency to active migration. If living conditions change dramatically, they move in search of another home. Then they go through everything - through water pipes and sewers, basements and garages.
During the day they prefer to rest, active mainly at night. You can find them in places with humidity, where there is less lighting. They react sharply to light, if you direct a bright lantern - they scatter sharply.
The benefits and harms of cockroaches
Cockroaches serve as food for many amphibians and lizards, especially those that live in zoos. They are able to multiply very quickly in favorable conditions, so they are bred and used as food for other animals.
Population
American cockroach.
Despite this name, America is not the native country for this species of cockroaches. He comes from Africa, but he moved on the galleys with slaves.
The American cockroach is considered one of the most widespread in the world. Wherever they pass, surfaces and products are contaminated. These scavengers infect significantly more food than they can eat. In addition to being unpleasant in appearance, they spread so quickly and actively that they can become a real public problem.
How to get cockroaches out of the house
American cockroaches have strong jaws. But they are afraid of people, so they rarely bite. It is difficult to get rid of these insects, the control measures are cardinal.
- Low temperatures. At 0 and below, they do not grow, but fall into suspended animation. In winter, the premises can be frozen.
- Chemical means. They can be different - crayons, loose preparations or sticky traps.
- Special services. For the expulsion of pests on a large scale and in industrial locations, it is often resorted to professionals who expel and disinfect the premises.
Conclusion
American cockroaches have inhabited almost the entire planet, they multiply rapidly and are omnivores. People enter the dwelling through open windows, doors, sewer and ventilation hatches. Modern industry produces many effective means to combat these harmful insects. Everyone can decide what means to use to make the cockroaches disappear from the home.
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