Cockroaches are animals. Types of cockroaches, lifestyle, habitat and behavior. British scientists spoke about the special mission of cockroaches on Earth

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 metamorphosis. 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. The system is connected to the external environment using 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 it 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;
• Not a large 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.

(Blattidae s. Blattodea) are the oldest, fast running insects, known since the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era. They have a body flattened in the dorsoventral direction, reaching a size of 3-6 cm. The abdomen is elongated, 8-10 segmented, with soft integument. The family is characterized by rather long running legs with flattened femurs and five-segmented tarsi. At the posterior end of the abdomen, on segments 9 and 10, there are small appendages - cerci, which are rudimentary abdominal limbs that are formed during embryonic development; the cerci serve as the ears of an insect, through which they perceive sound vibrations a certain frequency; in males, on the last segment from below there are 1 or 2 unsegmented appendages - the stylus.

The head of cockroaches is vertical, equipped with well-developed eyes, long multi-segmented bristle-like antennae and mouthparts facing downwards, and is almost or completely covered by a large shield-shaped pronotum.

The oral apparatus is of a gnawing type, consisting of an upper lip, strong upper jaws (mandibles or mandibles), armed at the apex with teeth adapted for biting and roughly grinding hard and juicy foods. The mandibles open to the sides. The lower jaws, or maxillae, tenaciously hold a particle of food, which the mandibles grind until it becomes suitable for swallowing. The upper lip directs food to the mandibles, and the lower lip ensures that it does not pass past the mouth. The mandibles are not covered by the upper and lower lips, so insects are always characterized by the grin of the upper jaws with their teeth. On the maxillae and lower lip there are articulated appendages - palps with taste organs that inform about the merits of food.

In the stomach of the cockroach, solid food is further ground into the smallest particles using chitinous teeth and digested under the influence of its own enzymes. Nutrients that are indigestible under the influence of the cockroach’s own enzymes are absorbed by the specific fauna of intestinal symbionts.

In those species that have well-developed wings, both pairs bear a large number of longitudinal and many transverse veins; the front pair, narrower, compacted leathery or parchment-like, are called elytra and serve mainly as a protective cover for the wings of the rear pair when the insect is not flying; the rear pair is thin, wider, bears the main load during flight and folds fan-shaped under the elytra at rest. In females, the wings are often shortened or completely reduced. In many species, wings have the appearance of rudiments or are completely absent.

Typically, cockroaches have odorous glands that secrete sex and aggregation pheromones. In females, from the secretions of the accessory sex glands, a special sac is formed at the posterior end of the body, in which they carry eggs for 14-15 days; The shape of the egg sac is characteristic of various genera of cockroaches. Like all orthoptera, cockroaches undergo incomplete metamorphosis and molt at least 5 times.

Most cockroaches are yellowish-brown in color, less often dark or black.

At least 3,000 species have been described, living in tropical and subtropical forests. In the territory former USSR There are 53 species of cockroaches, of which 49 species are native to our fauna, the rest are immigrants capable of living only in heated rooms. Among the latter are the inhabitants of human dwellings ( synanthropic species) are

• living in all parts of the world
  • red cockroach, or Russian cockroach (Blatta germanica)
  • black cockroach (sometimes called kitchen or oriental) - (Blatta orientalis)
• common in tropical countries
  • American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The homeland of the Prussian is considered to be South Asia, where the insect is found in the wild and has several close relatives. It is believed that the Prussian lived in the grottoes and huts of Stone Age people - mammoth hunters. It came to Greece in the 6th century BC. The red cockroach was brought to the countries of Eurasia around the middle of the 18th century. The Prussian came to our country from both the west and the east. It came to us from the west after the Seven Years' War in 1762–1763, together with Russian soldiers returning from Germany (does this explain its name - Prussian?), and from the east it was brought from China to Siberia around 1757–1760. Where it is warm, for example in the Crimea, in the south of Central Asia and in Far East, a Prussian and now lives in freedom.

The original homeland of the black cockroach has not been precisely established. Its closest relatives - species of the same genus - are distributed in Africa and Australia. It has been reliably known in England since 1634; it appeared in Holland in the 17th century.

The American cockroach was brought with goods to Europe from America and spread mainly in port cities, e.g. Kronstadt, St. Petersburg (where it is known in some baths); partially managed to penetrate into the country, for example. in France, where it is found in greenhouses, in Moscow, etc.

In general, cockroaches are common in all parts of the world, in the tropics and subtropics, in temperate and even polar countries. Cockroaches are spread by a person in whose things and goods cockroaches travel around the world.

Cockroaches are heat-loving and moisture-loving insects that avoid light. Live in the dark and damp places. Some of them, living in the jungle along the banks of rivers and streams, are excellent swimmers. Winged forms live on trees, bushes and low plants, and wingless ones stay in the grass, under leaves, etc. Inhabitants of human dwellings, in particular the red cockroach, both male and female, have two pairs of wings, which they use for movement very rarely, in exceptional cases, for example when falling from upper floors high-rise buildings. They live indoors: houses, bakeries, catering establishments.

Black cockroaches inhabit basements, basements and lower floors houses usually do not rise above the fifth floor. They prefer basements, toilets and bathrooms, places near radiators, electric stoves and pipes with hot water. IN large quantities may be seen around water sources. In warm areas, black cockroaches can be found on the streets. They live in hollow trees, landfills, and garbage. Black cockroaches are less mobile than other synanthropic species, they jump poorly, do not fly at all, and run well.

Cockroaches, inhabitants of human dwellings, hide in cracks during the day and come out in search of food at night. They are practically omnivores and eat a wide variety of foods of plant and animal origin. They feed on human food (food waste), as well as human secretions (feces, sputum). When people eat food, they contaminate it with their feces. This disperses bacteria and protozoan cysts.

Nymphs are generally similar in structure to adults and, as a rule, are found and feed with them. In conditions of poor nutrition, adult cockroaches can eat their weak, wounded, crippled brothers. In addition, red cockroaches eat egg packets of black cockroaches, the females of which shed the ootecae after their formation, which, together with the smaller number of eggs in the ooteca of the black cockroach, leads to the displacement of black cockroaches by red ones.

Without food and water, female cockroaches can live from 5 to 30 days, males - 5-15 days, larvae can starve for 40-70 days in a row.

The laying of eggs in cockroaches occurs in a rather unique way. Individual eggs, one after another, come from the oviduct and are collected in the egg chamber, where they are glued together with the help of a special secretion, forming a capsule, or ootheca. The ooteca of the red cockroach usually contains from 28 to 56 eggs, laid in symmetrical double rows. The female black cockroach lays up to 16 eggs in the ooteca. Ootheca forms over several days. Subsequently, the female black cockroach sheds her ootheca and does not care about her offspring. Female red cockroaches carry egg capsules at the end of their abdomen for 15–40 days, that is, until the nymphs are ready to be born. In this case, the eggs receive all the necessary substances from the mother’s body.

Cockroaches develop from two months to five years and go through 5–9 moults. The larvae differ from adults only in size, the absence of wings and the number of antennal segments. During development, without undergoing major transformations, the larvae molt several times and with each molt they become more and more similar to adult cockroaches. After the final molt, the larva becomes an adult and finishes growing.

Adults live up to seven years. The lifespan of cockroaches is largely determined by temperature. environment. The optimal temperature for the life of cockroaches is 22–27 degrees Celsius.

In our article we will look at the structure of cockroaches. Traditionally, very unpleasant associations are associated with these insects. But in fact, these animals have a number of unique characteristics. Let's talk about this.

Classification

The structural features of cockroaches determine their systematic position. These animals are representatives of the Arthropoda phylum, the Tracheinobreathing subtype, the Insect class, and the Cockroach order.

Like other representatives of this systematic unit, their characteristic features are the presence of three parts of the body - head, trunk and abdomen, fat body in the cavity, striated muscles and the exoskeleton in the form of a cuticle.

Etymology

The name of this insect appears in several languages. On this moment scientists have been unable to establish the exact origin of this word. Translated from Chuvash it is translated as “running away”. And this is no coincidence. Cockroaches hold the record for fastest movement among all land insects.

And it is very difficult to catch him. The fact is that in a second, cockroaches can change the trajectory of their movement more than two dozen times. Perhaps that is why, translated from the Turkic language, its name means “to diverge.”

Habitat

There are more than 4 thousand species of these insects in nature. Despite such diversity, the structure of cockroaches and their lifestyle are similar: they all love warmth and moisture. Therefore, most species live in the tropics. Selected species adapted to cold climate northern regions, where they feed on moss and lichen. There are also known cave cockroaches that have lost the ability to see.

Sinanthropus animals

According to popular belief, if cockroaches have settled in a house, this is a sign of wealth and prosperity. It is unlikely that those who have ever tried to get rid of these annoying insects will agree with this. Since ancient times, cockroaches have settled in human dwellings. After all, it provides these animals with everything they need: constant temperature, moisture and food. Animals that live with humans are called synanthropes. In addition to this species, these include ticks, flies, mosquitoes, mice, pigeons, and ants.

External structure of a cockroach

A distinctive feature of this type of insect is the oval shape of the body. Its dimensions vary from 2 to 9 cm. The head is triangular and flat. In front it is protected by the pronotum. There are eyes on the sides of the head, which allows these creatures to see in all directions.

A distinctive feature of the structure of cockroaches is the gnawing type of mouthparts. They consist of paired upper and lower jaws and two unpaired lips. This type of mouthparts is designed for grinding any type of food. This is possible due to the presence of numerous chitinous teeth on the jaws. There is also one pair of bristly antennae on the head.

The thoracic region is represented by three segments, to which a pair of legs is attached. Running type limbs. Each leg consists of five segments and ends in claws. This structure allows cockroaches to move even on steep surfaces.

On the chest there are wings - double lamellar folds of integument.

The structure of the wings of cockroaches has its own characteristics. By origin they are double lamellar folds of integument. On the outside, they are protected by dense elytra, which have tube-like thickenings - veins. These structures perform a supporting function. The wings are thin, mesh. In some species aircraft reduced

The abdomen of cockroaches consists of 8-10 segments. In each of them there are nerve nodes and spiracles - openings through which the trachea opens outwards. This structure explains the fact that cockroaches can live for a long time without a head.

The abdomen ends in a special structure - the cerci. Visually, it resembles a bristly antennae. Its presence is proof ancient origin cockroaches The sex of these animals can be determined by the structure of the abdomen. In males, the genital plate is located here, but in females the ovipositor is located inside the body.

Cockroaches are represented by the cuticle. The middle layer of this substance contains pigments that determine the body color of insects. Cockroaches can be black, red, white, or yellowish-brown.

Features of the internal structure

The organ systems of cockroaches are typical of insects. The muscles are well developed, capable of contracting at high frequencies. For example, the American cockroach is capable of covering a distance of 75 centimeters in a second. On the limbs of these insects there are thin hairs that perceive even the slightest air movement. Therefore, cockroaches are quite difficult to catch.

The digestive system is through-type. In cockroaches, the structure of its organs has the same plan as in all arthropods. But all insects have developed salivary glands, but lack a liver. The organs of the digestive tract include the oral cavity, subpharynx, pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard, and intestines. From the last section, undigested products enter the excretory system, which is represented by the Malpighian vessels. The presence of a goiter and a complex process of splitting organic matter allows cockroaches to live for several weeks without food.

The circulatory system is not closed. It is represented by a tubular heart and a single vessel. The blood is colorless. It mixes with the cavity fluid, forming hemolymph. This primitive structure is explained by the fact that the function of gas exchange is carried out by the respiratory system, represented by spiracles. There are ten pairs in total.

What is a fat body

The internal structure of the cockroach is characterized by the presence of loose connective tissue in the body cavity. It is called the fat body. This tissue occupies all the space between the internal organs.

The cells of the fat body are trophocytes. Their cytoplasm contains various inclusions. Thanks to this structure, this tissue participates in metabolic processes, the accumulation of fats, carbohydrates, and calcium compounds.

Uninvited guests

The structural features of cockroaches and physiology determine their favorite habitat - human habitation. Everything is here comfortable conditions: warmth, water and darkness.

Getting rid of cockroaches is often quite difficult. They get into the smallest crevices, cracks, cavities in wallpaper or ceramic tiles. Therefore process chemicals you will need all the hard-to-reach places.

Reproduction

Cockroaches are dioecious individuals with noticeable sexual dimorphism. The latter is manifested in morphological differences between males and females. Anyone can identify them. The male is smaller. Its wings are better developed, which allows it to fly short distances. The last segment on the male's abdomen has specialized outgrowths called styli.

The structure of cockroaches determines their ability to internal fertilization. After mating, the female lays eggs covered with a protective membrane - edema. This is typical for cockroaches. This means that the eggs hatch into larvae that look like adult insects. It is called imago. At first the larva is deprived of wings. It grows, molts and develops into an adult insect. This period lasts about four weeks. Individuals become sexually mature only after three months.

Cockroaches are very prolific. Over the course of her life, one female gives birth to more than a hundred individuals. She lays eggs repeatedly. And for this she does not have to constantly mate. The fact is that sperm can be stored in the female genital ducts for a long time.

Species diversity

They are not fiction. This kind actually exists. They acquire this unusual color for these insects as a result of molting. Over time they darken.

Furniture is special. It has a bright red color. The wings of such an insect are transparent, with brown stripes on them. His favorite treat is starch and everything that contains it. These are mainly book bindings. Therefore, they settle not in kitchens, but in libraries and archives.

The most common species in the south is the Central Asian cockroach. It can be recognized by its yellow head and dark belly. They jump high and are able to fly short distances. It is practically omnivorous and feeds on leftover food, plants and waste.

So, the peculiarity of the structure of cockroaches is the presence of three parts of the body, a dense chitinous cover, six walking legs and a pair of wings. are synanthropic animals. This means that cockroaches prefer to settle in human dwellings. Here they have all the comfortable conditions: warmth, moisture, darkness and a sufficient amount of food waste.

Cockroaches- one of the types of insects adjacent to people. But do you know how diverse they are? How many species are there of these tiny inhabitants of the planet? Which of them can settle next to people?

What kind of insects are cockroaches?

In most cases, cockroaches are unwanted guests in the house. Moreover, it is a huge problem. Cockroaches are tenacious pests that quickly adapt to various means fight them. They settle in hard to reach places, and they also spread infections. That is why it is necessary to know which types of cockroaches can get into houses in search of food. After all, in essence, their proximity is also an attempt to survive, albeit a completely unpleasant one for humans.

Cockroaches belong to the superorder Dictyoptera (Coleoptera). At the moment, there are more than 7 thousand species of Coleoptera, including 4500 species directly themselves cockroaches and almost 3 thousand species of other similar insects.

Representatives of the cockroach order preferentially live in warm and humid places. These are very mobile insects that are active at night. Species of cockroaches that can fly are able to fly to a light source at night. They all feed mainly on organic remains.

Features of the life cycle of a cockroach:

• stages incomplete transformation: egg, larva, imago;
• larvae and adult cockroaches are very similar visually, differing only in size;
• For cockroaches, in addition to reproduction, which involves two individuals of different sexes, parthenogenesis is also characteristic (the maturation of eggs in the body of a female individual without the participation of a male individual).

Cockroaches are very hardy. Some representatives of this order are able to go without food for many months. Also, these insects are much more resistant to the effects of radioactive radiation than mammals: a lethal dose of radiation for cockroaches 15 times higher.

Types of cockroaches in Russia

Our planet is inhabited by the most various types cockroaches However, only some representatives of this order live in houses. In the territory Russian Federation, due to the harsh climate, only 3 types of them are common: red, black and American.

1. Red cockroach

The red cockroach also has another name - “Prusak”. This representative can be classified as synanthropic organisms, in other words, living beings whose lifestyle inextricably linked with human life, his home and food. They do not live separately from humans! Prussians have no natural habitat.

The “cradle” of the red cockroach can be considered the area in southern Asia (India, Nepal, etc.). Only in the 18th century the habitat of the Prussians was expanded, and they fully conquered Europe and North America, thereby displacing the local black cockroaches.

The red cockroach is characterized by a tiny size - body length adult is about fifteen millimeters. The chitinous shell is red in color. The wings are developed, however, the Prussians are not capable of flight, but they can glide even from a great height.

Prusak is unstable to low temperatures(temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius are fatal for him). That is why, in cold climates, the Prussian is able to survive only in heated human housing.

Not picky about food. The Prusak can feast on the remains of human food, and will not disdain paper, fabrics and other organic materials. There have been cases of cockroaches eating leather shoes, carpets and paper money.

Like other representatives of cockroaches, the red cockroach has close contact with expired products, dust, garbage and all kinds of residues left by humans. Therefore, cockroaches become carriers of pathogens that cause gastrointestinal diseases, such as dysentery. They are also the cause of acute allergic reactions.

2. Black cockroach

The black cockroach has spread throughout Europe and some areas of Asia and Africa. However, already in the middle of the 20th century, black cockroaches began to be found much less frequently, unable to withstand the proximity to red cockroaches, and proving to be less adapted to the improving means of controlling household pests.

The size of the black cockroach varies from twenty to eighty millimeters. The chitinous cover is black, gray and dark brown individuals are found.

The black cockroach also chooses a heated house, greenhouses, coal mines and sewers as its habitat. In the south of Russia, on the territory of Ukraine and throughout Kazakhstan, it can also be found in natural environment, near human habitation. It feeds on food scraps and organic debris.

Representatives of this species are completely incapable of flight, but run very quickly.

Most interesting fact is the life expectancy - for the black cockroach it reaches 2-3 years. Unlike redheads, who live up to 6 months.

3. American cockroach

The American cockroach looks very much like a Russian cockroach, but its size reaches up to 5 cm. Representatives of this species have fully developed wings, which gives them the ability to fly. This type It has a long life expectancy (up to 2 years) and resistance to extreme conditions.

It is extremely rare in Russia, but still sometimes inhabits human dwellings. He loves to live in ventilation, where he flies freely and organizes nests.

4. Madagascar cockroach

Madagascar cockroaches are also widespread in Russia, but only as pets. Representatives of this species have outstanding sizes, reaching up to nine centimeters. Active in dark time days and emit a crackling sound vaguely reminiscent of hissing.

If you see a cockroach that looks like the insect shown in the photo above, then most likely it has escaped from a terrarium or cage of exotic insect lovers.

There are more than 4 thousand species of cockroaches in nature, but only a few have adapted to live near humans. In ancient times, insects were considered a symbol of wealth and meant an improvement in material condition, but today they are a sign of unsanitary conditions. Indeed, in addition to the fact that pests cause a lot of trouble with their presence, they also... You will learn which types of cockroaches are the most common in this article.

Red cockroach

This is one of the most common inhabitants of human habitation, which was brought to Europe and North America from South Asia. That is why the heat-loving pest prefers to live in residential areas.

The people gave this species of insects another name - Prussians. Adults grow up to 1-1.5 cm. They have developed wings, which allows them to glide when jumping. However, not for long.

On a note!

A distinctive feature of the female is a wide body with a rounded abdomen, which is covered with wings. Active males have a much narrower and slimmer body.

On a note!

The presence of black pests in the house indicates bad smell, which is caused by pheromones. Insects use them to attract their fellows.

This representative of the cockroach family lives in natural conditions. However, it easily adapts to life next to a person by changing its diet. Moreover, sweets are the pest’s favorite treat.

On a note!

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the American cockroach is much less common than its red and black counterparts.

This is perhaps the largest variant of insects living near humans. Such cockroaches can be up to 10 cm. Many people keep them in the house instead of pets. Insects are also bred as food for reptiles, since they reproduce quickly enough and do not require special conditions care They are kept in a terrarium, so these cockroaches do not have nests. Wood sawdust and leftover food is all that is needed to breed insects.

On a note!

Despite their impressive size, insects are distinguished by a very peaceful character and even increased timidity. During the day, they prefer to hide in plant litter, coming out only in the dark. Giants react to emerging danger with a strong hiss. This sound is produced by the insect with spiracles located throughout the body.

Interesting!

- another type of viviparous insect. Small larvae emerge from the eggs directly in the female’s abdomen, after which they crawl out along with fragments of the ootheca. At one time, the female is able to “give birth” to 25 larvae.

Egyptian

This synanthropic insect causes no less harm to humans and animals with its presence. Human waste Egyptian cockroach contaminates food and feed. In addition, insects carry various pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Insects eat:

• organic residues;
• dry leaves;
• fecal matter.

Cockroaches can inhabit residential and livestock premises, as well as rodent burrows.

This type of insect has a flat, oval-shaped body, the length of which does not exceed 2.5 cm. Males have dense, well-developed wings. Body color is dark or reddish-brown. Wingless black-brown females are very similar to small turtles. Their body length reaches up to 4-4.5 cm. A photo of cockroaches of this species is presented below.

Eggs white and up to 0.5 mm in size, females of this insect species after fertilization are deposited in a special capsule - an ootheca. In total, there can be up to 18 of them in one capsule.

Small cockroaches that appear over time are distinguished from adult individuals only by small sizes(up to 0.7 mm) and absence of wings. The young insects become sexually mature after 4 molts.