Identification
These large, dark brown cockroaches are most easily distinguished from the other species of
Periplaneta found in the US by the lack of any pattern on the pronotum. Other characteristics that differentiate this species from the others of this genus can be found on the
Periplaneta page.
Late instar nymphs can be very difficult to differentiate from some specimens of Oriental Cockroach, particularly older specimens that have developed a dark brown hue rather than the typical pure black coloration.
Life Cycle
Ootheca are dark brown, larger than the American Cockroach ootheca, and more similar to the ootheca of the Australian and Brown Cockroaches. They can be differentiated from the two species by the presence of a blunt point on one side of the ootheca.
Early instars are black insects with characteristic white markings on the distal antenae, proximal antennae, thorax and abdomen:
