Page 46 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

BROWN ROACH - FEMALE BROWN ROACH - FEMALE

Photo Courtesy of Jim Watson, UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of Jim Watson, UNIVAR

BROWN ROACH - NYMPH BROWN ROACH- EGG

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- long, thin, and hairlike 6.Pronotum BROWN ROACH
2.Eyes- 2 7.Petiole- none
3.Head- broad 8.Abdomen- broad
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish brown 1 6 5
5.Wings- covered 10.Other- triangular cerci 3

Life Cycle
The female lays between 21-28 eggs in a case (ootheca), which will
hatch in about 35 days. The cases are glued to hidden surfaces. About 4 10
14-16 nymphs will hatch from each case. The nymphal stage lasts about
seven months, and the egg to adult process will take almost a year to
complete. Adults can live for as many as 20 months. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

Actual size 2”
BROWN ROACH / PALMETTO BUG (Periplaneta brunnea)
The Brown Cockroach is often mistaken for the American Roach, mainly from their identical
coloration. The Brown Roach usually has a wider body. It is well established throughout the
Southeastern United States. They live under the bark on trees, in palms, wood piles, and
mulch. It can occasionally be found indoors, but it will not do well living there. The Brown
Roach is also found in sewers, and is one type that is commonly called the Palmetto Bug in
Florida, mainly due to its fairly large size. It is a good flyer.

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