The Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae) is a common insect in the roach family.
The Australian Cockroach has a brown waxy exo-skeleton, like a shield. Its head has pale yellow markings. It has long antennae. It has wings and can fly short distances. It has 6 legs, with pads and hooks on its feet that enable it to climb. It can even climb on smooth glass.
It grows to 2-4 centimetres (2 inches) in length.
The Australian Cockroach is common across Australia and America. It prefers tropical areas amongst bark and leaf litter, and in rotting logs.
It is a detrivore, eating decaying matter, such as leaves and vegetation.
It lives in colonies.
The female has an oothecal inside her body, which is an egg case carrying a mass of eggs, usually 30-60 eggs. The eggs hatch into nymphs inside her body after 60-70 days. The mother releases the nymphs from her body as live young. The nymphs grow into adult cockroaches after about 7 months. The young remain close to their mother for a few months after hatching.
The Australian Cockroach lives up to 5 years.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM