Which Species of Cockroach Are Found in India?
WouterThe American Cockroach is one of the most common cockroaches found in India. This species is smaller than other cockroaches and has a distinctive yellow band across its back. Adults can grow up to two inches in length. The eggs of this species hatch in 55 days and the adults live for ninety to one hundred and fifty days. American Cockroaches prefer warm, moist environments.
These cockroaches are primarily found in scrub forest environments. In particular, they live under leaf litter and in loose soil. They are very aggressive and have strong defenses. This species uses chemical pheromones to communicate with each other. In addition, they will raise their wings when disturbed. They also have lateral glands on the second and third abdominal segments. These glandular secretions are rich in volatile compounds. Up to 60 percent of this volatile fraction is N-3-methylbutylacetamide and N-3-methylbutylpropanamide, which seem to induce alarm behavior in these insects.
There are more than 5000 species of cockroaches, but four species are commonly found in India. These insects have a reddish brown body with a yellowish figure eight pattern on the back. They can fly and can lay up to 150 eggs per year. Cockroaches can live anywhere and can be found on most continents.
Cockroaches can be found in a wide range of habitats, but only a handful of species are considered harmful in human environments. These animals are considered a pest by pest control experts, but the majority of them are actually beneficial in their natural habitats.
