What types of cockroaches are there? External and internal structure of cockroaches. Turkmen and Egyptian cockroaches

What types of cockroaches are there?  External and internal structure of cockroaches.  Turkmen and Egyptian cockroaches
What types of cockroaches are there? External and internal structure of cockroaches. Turkmen and Egyptian cockroaches

A colony of arthropods burrowing in the substrate is a typical picture of modern tropical forests. Insects cockroaches are the oldest representatives of neoptera with incomplete transformation. Over the years of evolution, they have not undergone major changes. Arthropods have become true cosmopolitans, spreading across all continents except Antarctica. Cockroaches are hardy and agile, shy and omnivorous. Some species have become synanthropic insects.

Classification

The order Cockroaches (Blattopera) belongs to the class insects, phylum arthropods. Termites are included in a large group of 7,570 species. Cockroaches are members of the superorder Cockroaches (Dictyoptera). It includes new-winged insects with incomplete metamorphosis. 4640 species of cockroaches have been found and studied in the world. There is a constant debate among scientists regarding taxonomy. The authors divide cockroaches into different numbers of families and subfamilies, classify them together and separately with termites.

According to the latest data, 8 families have been identified: Nocticolidae, Corydiidae, Blaberidae, Ectobiidae, Cryptocercidae, Tryonicidae, lamproblattidae, Blattidae. The greatest diversity of species is found in the tropics. Insects found an abundance of food and shelter in warm and humid forests. There are 55 species of cockroaches living in the CIS. Some of them are synanthropic, living next to humans.

Information. Is a cockroach an insect or an animal? In everyday reference, animals are four-legged vertebrates, but in scientific classification they include many organisms. Insects are arthropod invertebrate animals.

Structure of a cockroach

Despite the species diversity of the order, the body structure of its representatives is largely similar. The morphology of the imago (adult individuals) is typical. Differences appear in size and color.

External structure of a cockroach

The body of insects is flattened and oval in shape. This structure allows you to crawl into narrow cracks and holes. The length of the imago ranges from 9 to 95 mm. The color of the cover is often dark - brown, black, brown. Reddish and coffee colors are less common. Nocturnal lifestyle, secrecy and the need for camouflage do not require the presence of bright colors.

Interesting fact. Most close-up view The Madagascar hissing cockroach is considered, its length is up to 100 mm. For comparison, the size of Prussians is 9-10 mm. They will tell you more popular information.

Body parts of a cockroach

Insects consist of three main sections: head, thorax, and abdomen. Dividing the body promotes mobility. Functional significance of each department:

The head is triangular or heart-shaped, movable, covered from above by a pronotal shield. The organs of vision and touch are located on it. Antennae are movable appendages consisting of segments. The type is bristle-like. The functions of the antennae of a cockroach are touch and smell. With the help of appendages, they determine the taste of food, find sexual partners, and communicate between individuals. The mouthparts are directed downwards.

Information. The number of segments in the antennae increases with changing ages of the larvae. They are added after molting.

Thorax - the middle section consists of three segments, divided into tergites and sternites. The upper half rings form the back, the lower half rings form the chest. The largest segment is the pronotum; it can be flat or convex. Elytra and wings are attached to it. Each part of the chest belongs to one pair of limbs.

The abdomen is the largest section and consists of 10 segments. At its end there are paired segmented appendages of the cerci. The abdomen houses the respiratory and digestive systems, and in females the ovipositor. The anal plate is located on the 10th tergite.

Features of the structure of cockroaches

Each of the main parts of the body contains organs that provide vital functions for insects.

What kind of eyes does a cockroach have?

The main organ of vision in cockroaches is compound or compound eyes. They are located on the sides of the head. Have various sizes(large in winged forms) and kidney-shaped. The interocular space is well defined. Additional organs of vision, simple eyes, help assess the intensity of light. They are small and located at the top of the head. How many eyes does a cockroach have? Insects have 2 main eyes and 2 simple eyes, which have atrophied in some species.

You will learn about the phenomenal endurance of insects in the article.

Type of cockroach mouthparts

Insects that eat solid food have developed gnawing type mouthparts. It consists of several parts:

  • Upper lip - sensitive hairs on its surface help in studying food.
  • The upper jaw (mandibles) consists of a durable chitinous plate with teeth. Used for biting and grinding food.
  • The lower jaw (maxilla) is a movable organ consisting of several segments that supports food during grinding.
  • The lower lip helps push food into the pharynx; its palp is an organ of touch.

The cockroach's mouthparts have remained unchanged throughout the entire period of its existence. It allows you to absorb plant residues and any organic matter.

Cockroach limbs

Running is the main method of movement for representatives of the cockroach order. The structure of their legs helps them with this. The limbs consist of 5 parts. They are attached to the body with the help of a coxa, which has developed muscles. The longest segments are the thigh and tibia. The flexible foot consists of 5 segments. There are spines on the legs and thighs. How many legs does a cockroach have? Insects have 2 pairs of limbs, each of which is attached to a specific part of the chest.

Information. Some species have a suction cup on the foot, allowing insects to move along vertical surfaces.

Limbs are used for more than just running and jumping. With them, the imago cleans the antennae and body of food debris. The legs are flexible and mobile, they allow you to quickly change the trajectory of movement in case of danger. average speed Prusak 3-4 km/h.

The structure of the wings of a cockroach

The ancestors of insects had developed wings and the ability to fly. Many modern views she was lost. Appendages appear only in adults. They consist of two pairs. The first is the leathery elytra. They perform protective function and do not participate in the flight. The second pair are membranous wings. The length and development of the appendages depends on the species. In females, the wings are less developed. In a calm state, insects fold them on their backs.

Flying cockroaches are most often found in the tropics, but some species are found in Central Asia and Europe. Among domestic insects, the American cockroach demonstrates the ability to fly. Although Prussians have long wings, they rarely spread them and can glide.

Internal structure of a cockroach

The vital activity of insects is provided by the main systems:

  • circulatory;
  • nervous;
  • digestive;
  • excretory

To understand how insects can live for months without food and about a week without a head, we need to study them in more detail.

Circulatory system - blood (hemolymph) flows in the space between the internal organs of the insect. There is only one vessel in the body connected to the heart. Main muscle. The pumping blood consists of 13 chambers, 2 of them are in the chest, the rest in the abdomen. The function of blood is to carry nutrients and removal of breakdown products. Distributes oxygen respiratory system. This is the main reason for the reduction of blood vessels. The blood movement is slow, the insect does not maintain a constant body temperature.

Information. If you deprive a cockroach of its head, the hemolymph quickly sinteres and the body does not bleed.

When depicted schematically, the respiratory system resembles a tree. It consists of a tracheal system that encircles all important organs. Branches extend from the main trachea, gradually decreasing in diameter. WITH external environment The system is connected by 10 stigmas, which are called spiracles in cockroaches. Two pairs of stigmas are located on the sides of the chest, the main part is located on the abdomen. Breathing occurs when the department contracts.

The digestive system is an intestine divided into several sections. In the mouth, food is ground and moistened with saliva. Next, it is pushed into the pharynx, then into the crop, where digestion and absorption begin. Food is fed into the stomach in small portions. It is prepared and sent to the midgut. In this section, the digestive secretion is secreted and the main absorption occurs. Excrement comes out through the anus.

The excretory system or Malpighian vessels remove waste products from the body through the hindgut.

What is the body of a cockroach covered with?

The typical cover of arthropods is a chitinous shell. For cockroaches, this is a shell that protects internal organs. It allows the body to maintain its shape and serves as a skeleton. The outer cover prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture. At the base of the limbs, the layer of chitin is thinner to provide mobility to the legs. The hard shell limits the growth of insects. During development, the larvae have to shed it. The tight shell cracks and the insect crawls out of it. At first his body is white and soft. This is a sign of the absence of chitin. After a few hours the cover is restored.

Information. An encounter with molted arthropods gave rise to myths about white cockroaches.

Features of reproduction

The duration of carrying depends on the species, some shed the ootheca after 7-14 days, others keep it in the abdomen until the larvae are born. The egg cocoon helps increase the survival rate of the offspring. This is the first food of the larvae. The young are born white, with a soft coat. The larvae stay near their mother or burrow into the ground. They go through 3-12 instars before turning into adults. Each is accompanied by molting - shedding a tight shell.

The offspring are called larvae or nymphs. Outwardly, they resemble adults. The differences are:

  • small size;
  • absence of genitals;
  • a small number of antennal segments;
  • lacking wings.

Larvae make up the bulk of the colony. They show more caution than adults and burrow into the ground more often. Development takes from several months to 1-2 years. When the temperature drops, the larvae grow poorly.

Nutrition

IN natural conditions Most cockroaches are vegetarians; they eat fallen leaves, fruits, and dead plants. Some species are omnivores, their diet expanded to include the remains and excrement of animals. Domestic insects feed on any food found in the apartment. Preference is given to sweets, bread and pastries, as well as fruits. You will learn about the diet of domestic pests in the material.

The harmfulness of insects

Synanthropic species living in human homes are a potential health threat. In search of food, they examine sewers, garbage chutes, and rodent holes. Pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and helminth eggs remain on the legs of insects. Dangerous microorganisms are transferred to food, bedding, and furniture. If you do not wash your hands regularly, there is a high risk of contracting dysentery, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and hepatitis.

Particles of chitinous cover, scattered by larvae after molting, cause severe allergic reactions. People develop chronic rhinitis and asthma. All information about the threat to human health is in the article.

In addition, pests spoil food, books, and wallpaper. They prefer secluded warm places, so they crawl into electrical devices. Insects cause short circuit and equipment breakdowns. In the fight against synanthropes, any means are used: freezing premises, glue traps, poisoned baits, insecticides. Treatment of apartments with special chemicals effective method get rid of insects.

Only a few synanthropic species of cockroaches have received the status of pests of stocks and carriers of infectious diseases. The main part of insects plays a significant role in the world ecosystem. Arthropods are destroyers of plant and animal debris and food for animals, birds and reptiles.

Nature of cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most ancient insects; they inhabited our planet back in the Paleozoic era and reached a length of 50 cm. Modern cockroaches are much “shorter” than their ancestors - from 4 to 10 centimeters. More than 4,500 species of cockroaches are known. Their population is especially numerous in the tropics and subtropics, among them there are real long-livers (the Australian rhinoceros cockroach lives for more than ten years, it holds the record for life expectancy), and only 55 species “live” in the territory of post-Soviet countries. Flying cockroaches are rare; science knows only one species that lives in the Central and South America. But almost all species can swim.

Flying cockroach. Source: http://nakipre.blogspot.com

Cockroaches are true dormouse: they spend 75% of their lives sleeping. They are heat-loving insects and die at temperatures below -5°, so they cannot be found in northern latitudes.

Cockroaches are not primitive insects, they have a brain, it is not located in the head, but evenly throughout the body. And white blood circulates freely without blood vessels.

Cockroaches do not breathe through their nose, they simply don’t have one, but through the cells of their entire body, which distinguishes them from other insects. Their hearing organs, or more simply put, their ears, are located on two processes - circuses, which grow at the end of the abdomen.

The stomach of a cockroach has strong muscles and... no less strong teeth. They have powerful, developed jaws, they are studded with chitinous teeth, which is why insects can eat very hard food, even wood and leather. The diet of cockroaches is very varied. They will gratefully eat anything that grows or moves, but at the same time, they can spend a whole month on a strict diet or starve.

The cockroach's eye consists of 4,000 segments, so the insect can see in all directions at the same time. Most cockroaches have two eyes, but species that live in poor lighting or its absence (for example, cave cockroaches), the eyes are atrophied or absent at all.

Survival gear

The female cockroach knows how to retain and store the male's seed, so after the first conception she can conceive several more times on her own, without his help. Most cockroaches lay eggs, but some are viviparous. It takes a cockroach larva from two months to five years to develop into an adult.

Larva of the cockroach Eublaberus distanti. Source: http://eublepharis.ru

Rhinoceros cockroach. Source: http://www.zoopicture.ru

The lethal dose of radiation for cockroaches is fifteen times higher than the lethal dose for humans, and cockroaches also sense microwave radiation. They can survive even inside a switched-on microwave, because they will accurately determine the place where harmful rays do not reach and take refuge there, but if a cockroach falls on its back out of the blue, it will die because it will not be able to roll over.

A cockroach can live without a head for nine days and die of starvation on the tenth. It is difficult to drown him and he is also unlikely to be able to drown himself, since he can hold his breath for 45 minutes. Research has shown that insects owe their endurance and amazing vitality to clear social behavior and the natural mechanisms that they use to help each other, “mutual assistance” for cockroaches is not just a word. For example, it has been proven that each cockroach leaves behind a special chemical trail that helps its comrades find their way to shelter, water and food.

Cockroaches are very mobile; they can change direction of movement 25 times per second. Small hairs on the sides of the insect catch the slightest vibrations in the air, so the cockroach “anticipates” your every movement.

The average cockroach can cover a distance of 22 centimeters in a second. The American cockroach runs 75 centimeters per second; if the American cockroach were the size of a cheetah, its speed would be 50 km/h. In 1991, an American sprinting cockroach set a record; it ran 5.4 km/h in 1 second. Giant cockroaches from the island of Madagascar, thanks to their athletic abilities, take part in cockroach races.

Cockroach races. Source: http://gavrosh.net

Cockroaches are considered carriers of dirt and infections, but they tirelessly monitor personal hygiene. They clean their whiskers with their hind paws, and if the hind paws are missing for some reason, then in a short period of time they adapt the front paws for washing.

Cockroach Doctor. Source: http://darkoman.net

Cockroach and man

Cockroaches have lived next to humans for a very long time. They are as integral a part of our reality as mice, cats and dogs. Perhaps that is why people did not feel the desire to explore them, arrogantly believing that everyone knew about them. Research on cockroaches began relatively recently.

The cockroach rules the kitchen. Source: http://www.colady.ru

There is an opinion that cockroaches owe their name to the Chuvash people. Translated from Chuvash, “cockroach” means “running away.” In Germany and the Czech Republic, red cockroaches are called “Russian”, and black ones are called “Swabians”, that is, “German”. Serbs also call the red ones “bubarus” (Russian beetle), and the black ones “bubashvaba” (German beetle).

Giant blabberus. Source: http://paramoribo.livejournal.com

In the Russian-language tradition, cockroaches have a lot of nicknames, they are called “tariks”, and “stasiks”, and “Prusaks”, and even “trams”.

Domino cockroach. Source: http://gallery.ecostudy.org

In many countries around the world, cockroaches, due to their unpretentiousness, are popular as pets. Archimandrite cockroaches, giant blaberus cockroaches, domino cockroaches, Cuban banana cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches are specially bred.

Madagascar hissing cockroach. Source: http://www.aquarion.ru

Cockroaches are also a valuable insect for lovers of terrarium animals. Ash cockroaches are ideal food for lizards, frogs and snakes; not only amphibians are averse to eating cockroaches.

A hedgehog chews a cockroach.

Cockroaches are very unpleasant household insects. There is no particular harm from them, but who would like to find uninvited mustachioed guests in the apartment? Many people immediately begin extermination, not even suspecting that there are many varieties of these insects. Of course, it makes no difference what types of cockroaches have settled in the room, but, as they say, you always need to know the enemy by sight.

Black (Blatta orientalis)

One of the most popular families indoors is black cockroaches. They easily enter your home, especially if there is a sewer drain, garbage cans or cluttered basements nearby. In the summer, members of the family can feel great outside, but when the weather gets colder they tend to find a warmer place.

An unpleasant odor, a chitinous black shell, and size (up to 3 cm) are the main characteristics of this species of cockroaches. Color can vary from dark gray to dirty red. Adult individuals reproduce slowly, but if you do not deal with them immediately, then such neglect threatens to grow the family to incredible sizes.

The largest concentrations of individuals can be found in the following places:

  • trash bin;
  • under the stove;
  • behind the refrigerator;
  • in the pantry.

Black cockroaches are the most dangerous insects from this family to human health. Since their favorite place is garbage containers, the number of infections and bacteria on their paws is impossible to even imagine. And together with insects, this accumulation of infection, dangerous for humans, can quickly move into the apartment.

Redheads (Blattella germanica)

If we consider the types of domestic cockroaches, this is the most popular family. It is also known as Prussians. No living space is immune from the appearance of red cockroaches.

It is worth noting that it is very difficult to get rid of them - insects know how to hide well, reproduce with incredible speed, and chemicals or traditional methods killing cockroaches is ineffective.


Types of cockroaches

You can meet red cockroaches almost everywhere:

  • Living spaces;
  • hospitals;
  • public places;
  • utility rooms;
  • country houses.

The body of the cockroach is slightly elongated, the chitinous shell has a reddish tint, which can range from light to very dark. Representatives of such an interesting family live near large quantity food. Incredibly, they easily manage to penetrate even closed containers.

Interesting facts from the life of red cockroaches - they can find food almost everywhere. Even if you carefully hide all the leftover food, insects will easily find a few grains of sugar spilled a long time ago or stale bread crumbs.

The presence of water is vital for representatives of this family. They can for a long time do without food, but if the taps in the apartment are faulty, then the cockroaches will calmly continue to visit, constantly visiting the source of life-giving for them. They will not disdain indoor plants– young sprouts may be completely eaten.

White

You can often spot a white cockroach in an apartment. Don't think that this is some strange new species. In most cases white shade the cockroach has after molting. During their entire life, insects of this family shed their chitinous shell almost 10 times.

The light, almost transparent color makes the insect much more difficult to detect. After some time, it will be covered with a new shell and acquire a permanent color. How long will it take him to do this? In just two weeks, the mustachioed white cockroach will turn into an ordinary red or black pest.


The appearance of a white cockroach

Chemicals can affect the shade of mustachioed apartment dwellers. This happens especially often if low-quality products for killing domestic insects were purchased. After some time, the natural color will return.

American (Periplaneta americana)

It is not worth judging the origin of an insect by its name. The homeland of this family is hot Africa. Cockroaches made their way to America with cargo ships, and then easily spread across all continents.

Abundant food, a large amount of garbage near houses and unsanitary conditions in public institutions became an excellent incentive to appear in our country. Despite how many species there are, this insect is easy to distinguish - its large size, oval body with a brown shell that looks like folded wings, differs sharply from the appearance of the familiar Prussians.

Another feature that distinguishes American cockroaches from red or black ones is that they cannot tolerate cold weather. Even at a temperature of 0 degrees, the insect inevitably dies. Another unpleasant characteristic is that the American cockroach is very aggressive and can even attack a pet or person.

Furniture (Supella longipalpa)

The central regions of Russia are especially abundant in such types of insects. They were first discovered in an apartment more than 50 years ago, and since then the owners of the premises have been unsuccessfully trying to get rid of such a scourge.

The peculiarity of this family is the presence of transparent wings with dark stripes and a bright red tint. The kitchen is the worst place for these insects. Why? Their favorite foods are wallpaper paste and old books. This is what brings these types of cockroaches to archives and libraries.

Central Asian (Shelfordella tartara)

The south of Russia is a part of the country where you can find another family of unpleasant insects. It is very easy to recognize - only Central Asian cockroaches have a yellow head and a black belly.

Another one of them distinctive feature– insects are able to jump perfectly from object to object, and where it is not possible to overcome an obstacle in one jump, cockroaches simply fly over.

Egyptian (Polyphaga aegyptiaca)

Some of the most prominent representatives among insect pests in the south of Russia. They don’t go overboard with housing conditions - they can happily live both in an apartment and in a room for livestock. They do not pose a threat, they are absolutely harmless, although the size of the family can cause many problems.

The appearance is quite unusual. Large, up to several centimeters adults are black in color. The shell is smooth and shiny. This species is often used as food on farms that breed lizards.

A little exotic

Despite the fact that people always think of cockroaches with disgust, some apartment residents cannot resist purchasing the most interesting specimens cockroach family.

One of the most beloved pets is the chess cockroach. It is called that because of its original coloring, reminiscent of a chessboard. The insect is nocturnal - it prefers to hide during the day, and when darkness comes, it goes for a walk around the apartment.

Another wonderful representative of a large family is the Death’s Head. Why is it called so unusually? On his back interesting drawing in the form of a terrible grinning mask. The peculiarity of this insect is the ability to make long flights.

The huge Madagascar cockroach is a unique insect. Not only can it reach 10 cm in size, but the ability to make sounds is unique to them out of the entire huge family. It sounds like a loud hissing sound, but scientists have proven that it's just noisy breathing.


Cockroaches - what kind of insects are they?

The rhinoceros cockroach is also unique in its kind. The huge weight of these insects is to blame for this. How much exactly? An adult can reach a weight of about 40 grams. Also such wonderful representatives exotic insects can live a long life - up to 10 years.

A striking representative of a number of insects Latin America– Megaloblatta longipennis. Not only is it huge in size, it is the only species that can fly without difficulty. The wingspan is impressive - up to 25 cm! The color of this insect is especially beautiful – black, with a purple tint. Because of its size, people are afraid to keep it in apartments, so you can only find such beauty in wild nature.

Mutation, crossing of several varieties, living conditions - all this has a beneficial effect on the growth of the family. More and more new species of cockroaches are appearing. Some of them are completely harmless to humans, but most can become the main cause of serious illnesses.

Scientists are confident that modern cockroaches can easily spread cholera or ulcers. That's why humanity long years fights these unpleasant insects. But so far everything is to no avail - the family continues to successfully grow and reproduce.

Video: Type of cockroaches

Considering cockroaches not out of entomological interest, but in the context of fighting them as uninvited guests in our homes, it is worth omitting the description of several thousand species living on the planet.

Information about the types of cockroaches is structured as follows:

There remain relatively few of those who have been annoying people for centuries with their intrusive proximity. Living conditions in close contact with people turned out to be more attractive than in wildlife. And now people are forced to protect their homes from annoying and very tenacious representatives of the fauna.

What do domestic cockroaches have in common?

The main thing common to all is secrecy, which gives time to insects that have chosen a new place to breed in sufficient numbers. Then local losses of individuals will not have catastrophic consequences for the entire population. The speed of reproduction also contributes to this.

The nocturnal lifestyle also helps cockroaches survive in conditions of constant danger posed by those at whose expense they feed, so it is much easier to avoid unnecessary encounters. A narrow, flat body and great agility make it possible to quickly hide in various cracks and voids.

External data:
  • elongated oval body up to 13 millimeters long;
  • mustache exceeding body length;
  • pronounced brown color, with variations from light to dark.

The Prussian, as it is also called, feeds on almost everything that lies poorly. The freshness of the products does not play a special role. Living in human habitation, it goes out hunting at night, picking up the remains of dinner, cleaning dirty dishes and anything that can store some amount of nutrients. It can sneak into places that the owners thought were inaccessible, such as bread bins, closed containers, and even refrigerators.

And by putting food out of reach and carefully wiping all the crumbs off the table, a person will not leave the red cockroach hungry. He will find something to profit from in the trash can or inside kitchen stove. Omnivorousness allows them to survive even on flowers on the windowsill or soap on the washbasin. In addition, they know how to starve, going without food for up to a month, but what they cannot live without for so long is water.

Acceptable room temperature - from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius and constant access to water sources, not to mention affordable food, make our kitchens ideal place for the red barbel. And the presence of all kinds of shelters, which abound in furniture, baseboards, wallpaper, heating radiators and water supply pipes, allow them to multiply at the speed of which they are only capable.

The closest relative of the Prussian, and almost not inferior to it in terms of the degree of dependence on humans. This species, however, is more wild, and settles in dwellings, driven by cold and hunger from garbage containers, basements and sewers. This may be why it is almost never found in apartments located above the fifth floor.

Distinctive features:

  • oval flat body up to 3 centimeters long in the imago;
  • relatively short limbs with suckers;
  • shiny black or dark brown color.
The main protection against the infestation of black cockroaches is compliance with sanitary standards indoors and general prevention in the form of barrier protection in areas of possible penetration:
  • sewer drains and water supply pipes;
  • air ducts and ventilation;
  • cracks along baseboards, window and door openings.

Due to the degree of danger infectious diseases, transmitted by black cockroaches, they are more dangerous to humans than the Prussians, despite the wider population of the latter.

No, these are not albinos, like some animals, and not even a separate group. This is a cockroach that has lost its chitinous shell and has not had time to acquire a new one. The molting process in these insects occurs about 8 times in their life, and at this time the cockroach is extremely vulnerable.

As never before, it goes particularly deep into hiding until its chitinous layer is restored and it gradually darkens, its usual color. All types of cockroaches that live in people's homes are subject to this metamorphosis.
It also happens that this is a surviving victim of exposure to chemical reagents, as a result of a person’s own insecticidal treatment of your home. In such cases, the color of the insect is not restored. Photo of a white cockroach:

American cockroach

Contrary to its name, it is a native of Africa, brought to the American continent, and then to Europe, thanks to the rapidly developing maritime trade. Traveling in bales and boxes of goods, they settled almost all over the world.
Initially a wild species, the American cockroach quickly adapted to new development conditions and became no less dependent on humans than the rest synanthropic species. In cohabitation with people, they are attracted by the same easily accessible water, food and acceptable temperature limits. But the American's are still much lower than those of red Prussians or black omnivores. It cannot withstand the slightest negative temperatures.
Even larger than the black one, it surpasses even the red one in speed of movement, and has a very aggressive disposition.

Furniture cockroaches

Recently open view, it has a red color and wings with brown stripes. He is distinguished by complete indifference to the food of a person with whom he is connected by a love of books. In bindings, as well as in wallpaper glue, he finds his favorite starch, which he mainly feeds on.

Turkmen and Egyptian cockroaches

Residents of the southern regions of Russia and Central Asia are probably familiar with this species of cockroach, which is quite rare in the cooler latitudes of our country.
At home, they live in livestock pens and poultry houses, but they can also migrate to human homes.

Ginger mustachioed cockroach can catch your eye almost anywhere: in a store, at home, in a basement, in a warehouse and, sadly, even in a grocery store or cafe. A small amount of water and crumbs is enough for a colony of cockroaches to feel great in the facility and successfully replenish the ranks.

Due to the ubiquity of the phenomenon, special services (SES) were created. They help managers of various enterprises maintain a favorable sanitary environment at their facilities. As for private homes, people act differently: some use the services of experienced exterminators, others prefer to deal with it themselves.

Not all cockroaches are objects of panic and disgust. Some live far in nature and do not bother people. Others, ornamental species, become favorite pets. Let us dwell in detail on some types of cockroaches.

It is these individuals, who are popularly called Prussians, that most often infest human homes. They establish themselves quite firmly in an apartment or house, and removing them requires a lot of effort. The main places where Prussians are found:

  • Private residential buildings.
  • Apartment blocks.
  • Medical institutions.
  • Public catering points.
  • Warehouses.

An individual of this species has a long body, the color of which can be either light or dark brown. Most often, body color is associated with red, hence the nickname.

If pests have already entered the house, measures such as sweeping up crumbs and clearing food from tables will no longer help. Cockroaches will find something to feed on. Even a grain of sugar found under the refrigerator, or a drop of glue, not to mention the “richness” of the trash can, can serve as a source of energy. In times of hunger, Prussians can soak themselves in indoor flowers or soap. However, the lack of water will become critical. To force the colony to look for another home, it is necessary to monitor the complete absence of water. You will even have to control the condensate on the pipes.

This type of cockroach, just like the previous one, has chosen the human home. He gets there from the most unsanitary places: basements, garbage containers, sewerage. If there is a black cockroach in your apartment, it will not be easy to get rid of it.

The diet of black individuals is approximately the same as that of Prussians: leftover food, crumbs, food waste.

Clusters of individuals are usually found near food:

  • In the trash can area.
  • Under the refrigerator and stove.
  • On the food shelves.
  • In the storage room.

Moving around a high-rise building, individuals visit basements, pipes, and sewage. Needless to say, pests can bring any infection into an apartment. This is the main danger of insects in the house. Thanks to them, bacteria from the dirtiest corners of the house can end up on the kitchen table where a person eats. This situation cannot be ignored, otherwise the risk will only increase every day.

It is interesting that the desire of insects to enter people’s homes is characteristic only of cold regions. In warm countries, these creatures live quietly on outdoors, finding refuge under rocks and in the cracks of city buildings.

In fact, white cockroaches are not a separate species of cockroaches. This is simply a certain stage of their life cycle when individuals shed their chitinous layer. Simply put, individuals acquire a white tint during the molting period. At this time, body tissues become almost transparent. In total, a cockroach undergoes about eight molts during its life.

There is a popular myth that a cockroach turns white if it constantly lives in the dark. This is nothing more than a fiction. Science does not know such cases.

It is extremely rare, but the following situation still happens: in an attempt to destroy pests, a certain chemical was used, after which the individuals survived. The substance had an effect on the body of insects, which turned them white.

Before us is a native of Africa. Subsequently, the insect arrived on cargo ships in America and Europe. This type of cockroach is extremely good at adapting to new living conditions. Although the homeland of insects is characterized by a hot climate, it was not difficult for them to adapt to life in a completely unusual climate. Individuals spend the warm season under open air, and during periods of frost they begin to take over human houses, finding there enough resources for survival.

Even the cold climate of our country has succumbed to American cockroaches. Apartment buildings became an excellent refuge, which provided the insects with everything necessary for existence.

An unpleasant feature of the species is their increased activity. They are very mobile and at certain moments can show aggression towards sleeping residents and their pets.

Having retained the biological memory of its warm homeland, the American cockroach remained extremely sensitive to low temperatures: its death occurs when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius.

Egyptian and Turkmen cockroaches

Both species have a characteristic appearance. Turkmen cockroach- This is a rather large individual with a black body and a bright red head. The Egyptian representative of the family has an almost round body of an absolutely black color and short antennae.

These insects are often used to feed lizards and snakes.

The view was discovered half a century ago. For the first time, representatives of furniture cockroaches were found in the central part of our country.

Externally, the individuals are very different from other species: the elongated body has a bright red color with dark stripes, long light legs, long mustache and transparent wings.

Now let's move on to such representatives of the cockroach family that do not pose any danger to humans. The worst thing you can experience when meeting these species is fear of surprise. It's about decorative types cockroaches, some of which you may encounter in the apartment of a new friend. But he will find himself not on the wall of the toilet, but in a specially equipped aquarium.

Recently, it has become increasingly fashionable to have atypical pets. Cockroaches are on a par with iguanas and spiders. For many this will only cause an attack of uncontrollable panic, but for others the warmest feelings.

Let's take a look at several colorful cockroaches living in the apartment completely legally:

  • Chess cockroach. Originating from India, the species is a very cute variant of domestic cockroaches. The name is closely related to its appearance: the back of the individual is painted in black and white color and has a pattern resembling a chessboard. This war paint was originally intended as protection against predators. During the day, the insect leads a passive lifestyle, freezing in a shelter, and at night it begins to search for food and other activities.

  • Dead Head. Your name decorative cockroach received thanks to its strange coloring: in the area of ​​the head there is an eerie red pattern, which creates an ominous accent against the black background of the body.

  • Madagascar cockroach. An individual of this species is quite large in size: the body length reaches 10 centimeters. Added to its impressive size is the unique ability to produce hissing sounds. This is necessary to scare away enemies.

  • Rhinoceros cockroach. Another large representative of domestic fauna: the weight of an individual can be up to 37 grams. This is almost equal to the weight of an adult sparrow. In addition, the species is distinguished by its long life: individuals can live up to the age of 10 years.

Reasons for the appearance of cockroaches in an apartment

First, let's figure out how individuals can get into a person's apartment.

Advice from a specialist at Eco-Processing:

When carrying out comprehensive disinfestation of certain premises, there is a high risk that insects will begin to scatter into neighboring rooms. For this reason, it is recommended to install a barrier. The barrier protection installation service involves applying a special preparation to doorways, sewer openings, etc. This will ensure complete destruction of the colony without the risk of moving individuals to other apartments.

  • Unsanitary conditions. In addition to specific precedents for bringing a cockroach into a house from the outside, there is an additional reason for their reproduction. It is more likely that the colony will settle down and begin to reproduce precisely where there is something to profit from. If it is not customary in the house to promptly remove food, crumbs, regularly take out the trash can and do wet cleaning If you leave a large amount of water after washing dishes and watering the plant, you should expect pests to appear.

Treating the premises against cockroaches

Any work to eliminate an infestation must begin with determining the exact reason why it arose. If you skip this step, your efforts will be wasted. The cause must be eliminated before disinfestation begins.

When choosing between independent and professional pest control, the following factors become decisive:

  • Having a lot of free time.
  • The degree of contamination of the premises.
  • Knowledge of pest control.

Some people despite common sense desperately trying to overcome the breeding pests on their own. However, even a great desire and a lot of time do not guarantee results. More often than not, this turns into an endless war. The results that can be achieved are, as a rule, temporary.

Only an experienced specialist can solve the problem quickly and effectively.

The Eco-Capital company provides services to both individuals and legal entities. Experienced craftsmen carry out disinfection in apartments and houses using drugs safe for humans, modern equipment. We care about the confidentiality of our customers, so the master has an unremarkable appearance, and his arrival does not attract unnecessary attention. Installed for all work guarantee period, which eliminates worries about the money given.

SES help is guaranteed result within a specific time frame for a fixed amount.