THE COCKROACH
It is found in the order Dictyoptera.
The cockroach is omnivorous and in fact when there is scarcity of food, it can eat anything ranging from paper, cloth, shoes, wood, etc. It is generally nocturnal and will normally be found hiding in dark places.
Adaptations of a cockroach:
It has very long antennae sensitive to touch and chemicals
It has cerci sensitive to air vibrations and movements.
It has a rich brown colour for camouflage in dark crevices.
It has strong mandibles for devouring a wide variety of organic materials.
It has wings for flight when in danger.
It is nocturnal and has a dislike of light which renders it less liable to capture.
Life cycle of a cockroach:
- After the male and the female have mated, the fertilised eggs are enclosed in an egg case called a ootheca which is deposited into a dark crevice.
- The eggs hatch after 6 weeks into nymphs which have no wings.
- The nymphs moult six times through instar stages with the wing buds developing each time.
- The nymphs feed and grow after every moult.
- It may take years before a cockroach reaches complete maturity.