Oriental Cockroach
Blatta orientalis
A dark, glossy cockroach that prefers cool, damp places such as drains and basements. Less common in Australian homes than other large species.
- Size
- 20–27 mm
- Colour
- Glossy dark brown to black
- Flies
- No
- Prefers
- Cool, damp places
Questions about the Oriental Cockroach
How to identify a Oriental Cockroach
Identification
- Adults about 20–27 mm, very dark brown to black and shiny.
- Males have short wings covering part of the abdomen; females have only wing stubs.
- Cannot fly.
Where it lives
- Drains, sewers, damp sub-floors, cellars and under leaf litter.
Behaviour
- Slower moving than other household cockroaches.
- Tolerates cooler conditions than tropical species.
Why it matters
Its sewer and drain habitat makes hygiene around drains important.
More likely in cooler, southern climates than in Queensland.
Commonly confused with
More questions about cockroaches
All cockroach questions →Other cockroach species
German Cockroach
Blattella germanica
A small, light-brown cockroach that lives and breeds indoors, mostly in kitchens and bathrooms. It reproduces faster than any other household cockroach and is the species most often behind persistent indoor infestations.
American Cockroach
Periplaneta americana
One of the largest household cockroaches in Australia. Lives in drains, sewers and sub-floors and wanders inside on warm nights.
Australian Cockroach
Periplaneta australasiae
A large outdoor cockroach, despite its name probably not native to Australia. Common in gardens, mulch and around houses in warmer parts of the country.
Cockroach guides
The Australian Guide to Cockroaches
Everything an Australian household needs to know about cockroaches: which species you are seeing, why they are there, how they get in, the health implications, and how to prevent and manage them.
GuideHow to Pest-Proof Your Home
A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.
GuideCommon Brisbane Household Pests
A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.
Cockroaches by location
More about cockroaches
Cockroaches
Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.
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Sources & further reading
- Australian Museum — insects and spiders — Australian Museum
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