American cockroach

Periplaneta americana · The American cockroach is the largest cockroach species routinely found in homes, and it is native to Africa and the Middle East but now lives almost worldwide.

Also called Ship cockroach, American cockroach, ship cockroach, Bombay canary, Kakerlac, Waterbug.

American cockroach
Photo: Insects Unlocked, CC0
American cockroach
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0
American cockroach
Photo: Sputniktilt, CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderBlattodea
FamilyBlattidae
GenusPeriplaneta
SpeciesPeriplaneta americana

Where it lives

Probably from tropical Africa; now in buildings and sewers worldwide.

Fun facts

  • Despite its name, the American cockroach comes from Africa and the Middle East, and it only reached the Americas from the 17th century onward.
  • One American cockroach hit 5.4 km/h, about 50 body lengths per second, like a human running at 330 km/h.
  • Each of its large compound eyes has over 3,500 tiny lenses, giving mosaic vision that is very sensitive at night.
  • When females live in groups, they can produce egg cases without mating, and the eggs can still develop into female cockroaches.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).