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BLATTARIA (Cockroaches) (Contact) Please
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Image & underlined links for details: Also See: <Blattaria Key> The order Blattaria are the cockroaches,
sometimes called "water bugs",
which have been transferred from the Orthoptera to a separate order. They have generalized biting mouthparts
and a five-jointed tarsus. They are
considered as probably the oldest group of present day insects. The anterior wings are narrower and
stouter than the posterior ones, which are more membranous and fold like a
fan. Jointed cerci & styles occur in adult males only. The ovipositor is small or absent. The metamorphosis is hemimetabolous. Eggs are laid in beanlike capsules or
oothecae that are produced by secretions of female accessory glands. The female may deposit these all at one
time, or they may be carried around until they hatch. Cockroaches
are nocturnal in their habits and omnivorous. They are also gregarious.
LIFE CYCLE Cockroaches
seek out warm and humid areas where as omnivores they feed on any available
food. They move among dwellings via
sewers They are able to survive for
many weeks without water and months without food. In their hemimetabolous life cyele the nymphs emerge from eggs
after 1-3 months of incubation, but varying with temperature. They wingless nymphs have a variable
number of instars of 5-13, depending on species and environment. The length of time for each stage depends
also on species and environmental conditions. MEDICAL IMPORTANCE The grasshopper and crickets are not of importance in
spreading disease, but their vast numbers at times may cause great distress
to humans by flying into them, getting in clothes and accumulating in public
buildings during autumn especially. However, cockroaches that were included in the Orthoptera
before being assigned to their own order Blattaria, are of great importance
in spreading disease as they harbor pathogens on their oily bodies. They enter food preparation areas at
night, contaminating utensils, and they can move through sewers between
dwellings transferring disease-causing organisms in the process. Regarding allergies, Service (2008) noted
that the allergic rate is second only to that caused by house dust mites. Cockroaches have been found to carry a number of diseases,
among which are Poliomyelitis
virus, Entamoeba histolytica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Toxoplasma gondii,
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella. and Shigella dysentariae CONTROL Cockroaches
may be controlled with poisoned baits, but sanitation is the most effective
way to reduce their invasion into home areas. However, neighboring dwellings that harbor large populations of
roaches may pose a threat because they are able to travel through the sewer
system. Service (2008) recommended
the application of synthesized insecticidal sprays or dusts to areas in the
dwelling where cockroaches roam.
However, the continuous use of such products inevitably leads to
resistance and reduced effectiveness.
Some of the older natural remedies such as boric acid powder have
provided good control both as a stomach poison and contact insecticide. Poisoned baits include nicotine or
sulfonamide based substances mixed with various foods (e.g., peanut butter
that should be set in areas where cockroaches are observed. Available also are sticky traps containing
cockroach pheromones. = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = Key References: <medvet.ref.htm> <Hexapoda> Appel, A. G. &
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