Cockroaches
Blattodea/Blattaria is the order of insects that includes cockroaches.
There are approximately 3,500 different species of cockroaches worldwide, divided into 6 main families.
Approximately 150 species are found in Europe and 20 species in Greece.
Their color varies from pale/brown to black, with or without spots.
The largest species reaches 8 centimeters, while the smallest are just 2 millimeters.
They have chewing mouthparts and long antennae.
They are active at night and hide during the day.
They prefer humid and warm environments
They live in groups near food sources.
They are mainly omnivorous but not predatory insects
They can survive several weeks/months without food
Females lay capsules (ovaries) with many eggs.
They have incomplete metamorphosis (semi-metamorphic insects), the nymphs resemble adults
They indicate poor cleanliness and a health risk
They have a flat oval shape, spiny legs, long antennae, and brownish-red wings (in adults).
Nymphs have no wings and move very quickly.
They can survive for a long time without food (3 months) or water (1 month)
They grow in dark and damp places and avoid light.
They enter buildings through sewage and drain networks.
They are carriers of many pathogenic microorganisms that can transmit diseases such as salmonellosis, etc.
They can contaminate food with bacteria, fungi, viruses through secretions and feces
They are associated with respiratory problems such as asthma and shortness of breath and skin problems in humans
Adults have a lifespan of 100-200 days and can survive almost anywhere.
They have very high reproductive rates. The female only needs to mate once and then lays about 40 eggs every 30 days throughout her life.
The development cycle from egg to adult lasts up to 100 days.
Inside homes, they are often found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas with food/moisture.
They can move through drains and invade apartments.
They often invade spaces transported in objects such as bags, boxes, and electrical appliances.
It is the most important species, perhaps the most common and certainly the most difficult to combat.
Comparing it to the German cockroach, I note the following:
Similarities:
Both can survive outdoors and indoors
They invade homes through pipes, openings, drains, etc.
They feed on organic matter and starchy foods.
They prefer dark, damp places
Differences:
The Eastern one prefers basements, pipes, closets more than the German one.
The eastern has a slightly longer average lifespan (206 days)
The eastern has even higher reproduction rates (about 15 eggs per 15 days)
The female eastern carries the ovary for 24-36 hours before laying it.
Overall, although they share many characteristics, the Eastern cockroach has some additional advantages such as a longer lifespan and even higher reproduction rates than the German cockroach, making it particularly problematic for population control.
Brown Supella longpalpa
It resembles the German one in shape and size (1.4 cm) but is light brown in color with transverse bands on the wings.
It feeds on a wide variety of foods, especially starchy foods such as bookbindings, glue, and stamps.
Its presence is indicated by small ovaries (5 mm) and fecal spots.
It has very high reproduction rates, with the female laying 15 eggs every 15 days.
It prefers dark, damp places such as basements, pipes, and closets.
It can invade homes from various points such as pipes, openings, and drains.
It can transmit diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, salmonella – especially through dust from dried feces/body parts.
