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There are many varieties of cockroach, and all have the following common characteristics:
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| Wings |
Generally, two pairs of wings, although some have none. The forewings have well-developed veins and tend to be hardened, over-lapping down the mid-dorsal line. The hindwings are membranous and are folded beneath the forewings. |
| Antennae |
Long and whip-like, with many segments. |
| Feet |
5-jointed. |
| Diet |
Omnivorous, including fermenting substances, soiled septic dressings, hair, leather, parchment, wallpaper, faeces, and food for human consumption. The mouth is designed for biting. |
| Metamorphosis |
3 stages - egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs are smaller than the adults and similar in appearance, except that they are white following hatching or moulting. |
| Distribution |
Commonly found in commercial premises where food is produced or handled. Also found in public buildings and domestic premises such as apartment blocks. Buildings with service ducts and complex plumbing installations are especially vulnerable. Being nocturnal, their days are spent hidden in cracks and crevices around such areas as sinks, drains, cookers, the backs of cupboards, and refrigerator motor components. Infestations may be introduced, either as eggs or adults, in incoming laundry, or raw materials, or crates and packaging. Adults may also enter buildings by way of drains, refuse chutes, and the like. |
| Diseases |
Cockroaches are known to carry such diseases as dysentery, gastroenteritis, typhoid and poliomyelitis. Food may be contaminated by germs passing from the insect's body, or in deposits of faeces. |
| Allergic Reaction |
Materials derived from cockroaches in airborne dust may be ingested or inhaled and produce allergic reactions. Sensitive individuals, such as asthmatics, would be especially vulnerable. |
| Contamination |
The characteristic smell of the cockroach will be evident on food that has been contaminated by faeces, saliva, secretion from abdominal glands, or the dead bodies of the insects. |
| Most common species |
The most common species in Northern Europe are Blatta Orientalis, the Oriental Cockroach, and Blattella Germanica, the German Cockroach. Periplaneta Americana, the American Cockroach, and Periplaneta Australasiae, the Australian Cockroach, are tropical and sub-tropical species, but may also be found in ports and shipping areas in temperate climates. |
