Cockroaches Pest Control Products from DIY Pest Control Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) These shiny dark brown to very dark brown insects grow to between 15mm and 30mm. They have long, flexible antennae, long well-developed legs and leathery wing cases. The wing cases of the female oriental cockroach are noticeably shorter than those of the male. The Oriental cockroach is a pest of warm environments although it can tolerate a wide range of temperature differantials. They harbour in many differing areas such as heating ducts, drains etc. and feed on a wide range of foodstuffs. They are a very gregarious insect, and if found in a building, may be in very large numbers. Because of their liking of heated buildings, they are likely inhabitors of restaurants, hospitals, laundries and prisons and because of their nature of crawling on food preparation surfaces and on the food itself, are a risk to the health and well-being of humans. As with the other cockroach species, Oriental cockroaches are nocturnal creatures, and will much prefer to emerge from their harbourages and feed in totally dark areas. If entering a kitchen at night, where a cockroach infestation exists, the switching on of a light will send the cockroaches scattering for cover. German Cockroach (Blattella germanica) The German Cockroach grows to a length of around 12 - 15mm. They are mid-brown in colour on the wing cases that cover the length of the body. The pronotum (just behind the head) is coloured yellow-brown with 2 dark stripes running horizontally front to back. German Cockroaches are common in Northern Europe and prefer generally hotter, more humid conditions than the Oriental Cockroach. They are often found in bakeries around the ovens, in the heating systems of institutions such as prisons and hospitals. As with all species of cockroach they are nocturnal, secreting themselves during the day in crevices. They are a gregarious insect and attracted together by a substance that is passed out in their faeces. Mating adults are also attracted by scent. The female emits the scent which is picked up by the male on scent glands in the antennae.

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