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A cockroach is an insect
of the order Blattodea (or Blattaria). The American Cockroach
(Periplaneta americana) is about 3 cm long. The German cockroach
(Blattella germanica) is about 1.5 cm long. Tropical cockroaches
are much bigger. When infesting buildings, cockroaches are considered
pests. Cockroaches are often found around garbage and in the kitchen.
Female cockroaches, or henroaches, are sometimes seen carrying
egg cases on the end of their abdomen; the egg case of the German
Cockroach holds about 30-40 long, thin eggs, packed like frankfurters
in the case called an ootheca. The
eggs hatch from the combined pressure of the hatchlings swallowing
air and are initially bright white nymphs that continue inflating
themselves with air and harden and darken within about 4 hours.
Their transient white stage while hatching and later while molting
has led to many individuals claiming to have seen albino cockroaches.
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A female German
cockroach carries an egg capsule containing around 40 eggs. She
drops the capsule prior to hatching. Development from eggs to
adults takes 3-4 months. Cockroaches live up to a year. The female
may produce up to 8 egg cases in lifetime. In other words, in
favorable condition it can produce 300-400 offspring. The world's
largest cockroach is the Australian giant burrowing cockroach,
which can grow to 90 mm in length and weigh more than 30 grams.
Comparable in size is the giant cockroach Blaberus giganteus,
which grows to a similar length but is not as massive.
Images 1 Though 5 Come From The U.S.D.A.
Image Number 6 Supplied By FUN GROUP INC.
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