The American
cockroach, periplaneta americana(Linnaeus), is the largest of the common
peridometic cockroaches measuring on average 4cm in length, it occurs in
buildings throughout Florida especially in commercial buildings. In the
Northern United States, the cockroach is mainly found in steam heat tunnels or
large institutional buildings. The American cockroach is second only to the
German cockroach in abundance.
Forty-seven species are included in
the genus, periplaneta, none of which are endemic to the US (Bell
and Adiyodi 1981). The American cockroach peripaneta americana was
introduced to the United States as early as1625 (Bell and Adiyodi 1981).
The American cockroach has spread
throughout the world by commerce. The cockroach is often found residing indoors
as well as outdoors. It is found mainly in basements, sewers, steam tunnels,
and drainage systems (Rust et. al. 1991). This cockroach is readily found in
commercial and large buildings such as restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries
and where food is prepared and stored. The American cockroach is rarely found
in houses, however after heavy rain infestations of the cockroach can occur in
homes. The can develop to enormous numbers greater than 5,000 sometimes being
found in individual sewer manholes (Rust et.al.1991).
American cockroaches are found in
moist shady areas outdoors, in yards, hollow trees, wood piles, and mulch. They
are occasionally found under roof shingles and in attics. The cockroaches dwell
outside but will wander indoors for food and water or during extremes in
weather conditions. In Florida, areas such as trees, wood piles, garbage
facilities, and accumulations of organic debris around homes provide adequate
food, water and harborages for peridomestic cockroaches such as the American
cockroach (Hagenbuch et al. 1988). Mass migrations of the American cockroaches
are common (Ebeling 1975). The migrate by crawling or flying into structures
often entering houses and apartments from sewers via the plumbing, by trees and
shrubs located along-side buildings or trees with branches over hanging roofs
facilitate the entry of cockroaches into the home. During the day, the American
cockroach, which responds negatively to light, rests in harborages close to
water pipes, sinks, baths and toilets, for example, where the microclimate is
suitable for survival (Bell and Adiyodi 1981).