Oriental cockroach
Blatta orientalis
Description
The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), also known as the black cockroach, is larger than the German cockroach: it measures 20–27 mm and is dark brown to black. It moves more slowly and cannot fly: the male has wings covering much of the abdomen but cannot use them for flight, while the female has only short wing stubs.
It prefers cool, damp environments — cellars, basements, drains and building cavities — and often comes up through pipes. Associated with dirt and standing water, it becomes noticeable through its foul smell and nocturnal presence.
Key characteristics
20–27 mm
Dark brown / shiny black
Cool, damp areas, drains and cellars
Nocturnal, slow-moving, comes up through pipes
The female produces 5–10 egg cases with an average of 16 eggs each; at room temperature, nymphs hatch after 50–60 days, and complete development takes 1–2 years at low temperatures; the adult lives for 5–6 months
Risks and spread
The Oriental cockroach indicates hygiene problems and carries pathogens from drains into living and working spaces.
- Hygiene and health — It carries bacteria and dirt from drains onto food and surfaces.
- Foul odours — It releases a distinctive unpleasant smell in infested areas.
- Contamination — It soils food supplies and premises with droppings and secretions.
- Spread through utilities — It uses drains and cavities to spread between rooms.
Prevention
-
1
Maintain drains and traps and ensure they are properly sealed
-
2
Reduce damp and standing water in cellars and utility rooms
-
3
Seal pipe penetrations, cracks and grilles
-
4
Maintain cleanliness and proper waste management
-
5
Periodically inspect basements and damp areas
Our intervention
TIsistemo uses targeted treatments and environmental sanitation, also addressing points where cockroaches emerge from pipes.
-
Site inspection Identification of infestation sources, drains and routes of emergence.
-
Targeted treatment Baits and specialist products at critical points and along routes.
-
Environmental sanitation Addressing moisture, drains and shelters to remove favourable conditions.
-
Monitoring Follow-up checks to confirm the result.
Same category
Other pests we handle
Got a problem? Call us now.
Rapid response across Canton Ticino and Italian-speaking Graubünden. Free quote.