Cockroaches in NYC By William Quan Nnamdi Onyeabor Image By flamingfeta

There are four types of cockroaches that roam New York City German cockroaches (blattella germanica) Brown-banded cockroaches (supella longipalpa Brown-banded cockroaches (supella longipalpa American cockroaches (periplaneta americana) American cockroaches (periplaneta americana) Oriental cockroaches (blatta orientalis) Oriental cockroaches (blatta orientalis) Cockroaches in NYC Images provided by NYC GOV

High density populated area with a lot of humans attract these pests There are many damp spots in NYC buildings, such as basements and kitchen sinks etc. More humans equals more garbage and more garbage equals more food for a colony of roaches These types of roaches are mainly found in low income households and city apartments due to a huge amount of people living in one space and low quality living space The buildings in NYC provide a natural protection from weather and predators Why NYC? Images provided by NYC GOV

30% of households (880,000 households) in New York City have cockroach infestations Image By.katie

Foraging Behaviors Cockroaches are the most common household pests in NYC Thrive under low quality living space and dirty neighborhoods Live in groups and are attracted to warmth and darkness (this explains why in the winter there are the most infestations) Some of the four different types of roaches are known to be immune to certain pesticides Can survive up to three months without food or water Image By avo-bro

Foraging Behaviors Has spatial knowledge of food positions (will scout for food close to their home rather than look for food far away) Leaves pheromone trail for other roaches to come to area (this makes it easier to navigate around the area in which they inhabit) Scatter upon light (would rather work in darkness) Image By dM.nyc™

Cockroaches in Fordham University Shown here are the American Cockroach. Notice the size comparison to a Dime. Pictures taken by William Quan in Fordham University’s Larkin Hall.

Cockroaches in a NYC Apartment Image By 12by0 Image By mikelehen Image By eecue

Attributes German Cockroaches are nocturnal. They are able to roam freely without being disturbed by humans. German Cockroaches are nocturnal. They are able to roam freely without being disturbed by humans. German cockroaches also have a discrete body shape. They are ½ to 5/8 of an inch long and roaches tan base color helps them blend in with their surroundings (i.e. kitchen hardwood floor) German cockroaches also have a discrete body shape. They are ½ to 5/8 of an inch long and roaches tan base color helps them blend in with their surroundings (i.e. kitchen hardwood floor) Image by Flickr

Attributes German cockroaches live longer than the other species because of their size. German cockroaches live longer than the other species because of their size. They can hide in cracks that are 1/16 of an inch big. Its very beneficial because German roaches can hide from predators (humans) They can hide in cracks that are 1/16 of an inch big. Its very beneficial because German roaches can hide from predators (humans) Images by V. Jedlicka

Mating Habits Female cockroaches carry their egg case, or ootheca, with them during the lifetime. Female cockroaches carry their egg case, or ootheca, with them during the lifetime. She can produce 4-20 oothecas She can produce 4-20 oothecas The ootheca provides protection to the eggs until the hatch and grow to be young cockroaches The ootheca provides protection to the eggs until the hatch and grow to be young cockroaches The egg cases (or ootheca) according to the 4 cockroach species

Mating Habits In each ootheca, a female cockroach can hold up to 30 eggs. In each ootheca, a female cockroach can hold up to 30 eggs. The female German cockroach is unique in that she can carry her ootheca throughout her entire incubation period. The female German cockroach is unique in that she can carry her ootheca throughout her entire incubation period. 24 hrs before the eggs hatch, the female German roach hide their eggs in a protected crevice. 24 hrs before the eggs hatch, the female German roach hide their eggs in a protected crevice. German cockroach holding its ootheca

Works Cited Cloarec, A. and Rivault, C Age-related changed in foraging in the German cockroach (Dictyopera: Blattellidae). Journal of Insect Behavior, 4, C. Rivault and A. Cloarec Exploitation of food resources by the cockroach Blattella germanica in an urban habitat Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (accessed March 8, 2009) Durier, V., Rivault, C Learning and foraging efficiency in German cockroaches, Blatella germanica, (Insect Dictyopera). Animal Cognition, 3, eta+americana+foraging+in+urban&ots=8YczfmESpE&sig=jKsWiWj2xQnU9HlZjpzPahVDKA E#PPA62,M1 (accessed March 8, 2009) Fotedar, R. "Cockroaches (Blattella germanica) as Carriers of Microorganisms of Medical Importance in Hospitals." Epidemiology and Infection 107 (1991): JSTOR. Fordham University. Fordham Library, Bronx. 10 Mar Houseman, Richard M Agricultural MU Guide. University Missouri-Columbia. Jacobs, Steve. German Cockroaches. Entomological Notes. May Pennsylvania State University. 6 Mar Ogg, Barb. German Cockroaches. Extension in Lancaster County University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 10 Mar

Works Cited 2 NCBI taxonomy Blattella germanica (accessed March 9, 2009) New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “What are Cockroaches?,” NYC.GOV, (accessed March 6, 2009) Quitoni K, Thorpe L, Leighton J, Frieden T. “Pests Can Be Controlled… Safely.” NYC Vital Signs 2005, 4(3): 1-4 Rauh, Virginia. "Deteriorated Housing Contributes to High Cockroach Allergen Levels in Inner- City Households." Environmental Health Perspectives 110 (2002): JSTOR.org. Apr JSTOR. 10 Mar Rosenstreich, David L. "The Role of Cockroach Allergy and Exposure to Cockroach Allergen in Causing Morbidity among Inner-City Children with Asthma." The New England Journal of Medicine 1363rd ser. 336 (1997). NEJM. 9 May The New England Journal of Medicine. 10 Mar Tsai, Yuan-Hwang. "Parasites of the German Cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) in New York City." The Journal of Parasitology 56 (1970): JSTOR. Fordham University. Fordham Library, Bronx. 10 Mar Valles, Steven. Common Name: German cockroach; Scientific name: Blattella germanica. Department of Entomology and Nematology. Aug University of Florida. 6 Mar