Greetings from Chicago...

[DonaldJ]

Total n00b here...

Captured this fine specimen this past July, and based upon size and nearly black color (topside), I determined she's one of our favorite pests, Blatta Orientalis.

I say "she" because a few weeks after capture she dropped an ootheca. A week later another one, and kept dropping them every week or so until there was a total of six.

Sadly, she expired shortly thereafter.

There have been two hatchings thus far, with fewer surviving nymphs than expected. Rookie mistakes were made and drownings were frequent.

Now that the mistakes have been corrected and habitats improved, their behavior will be studied. They are neither feeders nor pets. I want to keep them well nourished in a healthy environment and observe what they do. There is a lot of contradictory information online and I want to verify the facts for myself.

Many hours were spent searching online for useful information, and it wasn't until I searched for "behavior blatta orientalis" that I discovered this fine forum.

The only conclusion I can make at this time is "don't eat the brown Tic-Tac."

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[Allpet Roaches]

Welcome! That's an uncommon species to begin one's journey of blattodean fascination.

 

[Hisserdude]

Hi! Blatta orientalis are one of my favorite looking "pest" roaches! Even though they are marked as pests, they can't really infest your home, they prefer very moist areas around human dwellings, like the sewers. They are like the american roaches, they don't breed in your house but they will wander inside looking for food.

 

[DonaldJ]

Welcome! That's an uncommon species to begin one's journey of blattodean fascination.

This is not something I had anticipated. The roach was a surprising discovery in my kitchen (2nd floor apartment) considering it's preferred habitat. It may have hitched a ride in the shipping material of recently installed windows, or it was a gift from the heavens. I suspect the latter.

Anyhow, it's a harmless basic Big Black Bug and I decided to give it a good home. Returning it to the wild would have been a certain death sentence, what with birds, spiders, pesticides,etc. Given the social nature of these critters she was probably lonely, but her offspring seem to be having a good time.

Only time will tell where this journey takes me.

Thanks for the welcome...

 

[DonaldJ]

Hi! Blatta orientalis are one of my favorite looking "pest" roaches! Even though they are marked as pests, they can't really infest your home, they prefer very moist areas around human dwellings, like the sewers. They are like the american roaches, they don't breed in your house but they will wander inside looking for food.

It's a fine looking bug...very basic. I like the fact that they're reasonably slow to mature and not as fecund as many other species. It would take years to develop a sustainable feeder colony, at which time I would have to find something to eat them, which would be bothersome.

I've read that they're not supposed to be good climbers, but the nymphs I have are always climbing to the highest point of their habitat. Intriguing little critters.

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[Salmonsaladsandwich]

They're not good climbers in that they have trouble gripping smooth surfaces like glass. Doesn't mean they don't like to climb.

 

[DonaldJ]

They're not good climbers in that they have trouble gripping smooth surfaces like glass. Doesn't mean they don't like to climb.

Oh, these little guys really like to climb. They seek out the tallest structure in the habitat and play "king of the hill," with antennae flailing wildly. Some kind of dominance thing going on; very entertaining.