German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

Appearance: It is 10-15 mm long, the adult is yellowish-brown and larvae somewhat darker.

Reproduction: For 2-4 weeks the female carries a capsule with 36-44 eggs. Cocoons come out of them, and to fully develop they need 1-2 months at a temperature of 30°C. Biotic potential of a single female is around 35000 cockroaches per year.

Habits and habitat: It prefers hot, narrow and damp places with an abundance of food. It releases a characteristic smell and is active mainly in the dark.

Appearance: It is 20-27 mm long, shiny dark chestnut colour.

Reproduction: Female lays a capsule with 16 eggs, from which in 60 days cocoons hatch. Development of males takes 4-6 months and females 9-10 months.

Habits and habitat: They inhabit basements, warehouses, sewage system, and prefer starch, meat and blood-containing diet.

Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

Appearance: Their size ranges from 10-14.5 mm, they are light brown.

Reproduction: The female lays egg cases with 16 eggs, from which the larvae hatch after 40 days. The period of development into a mature individual depends on the temperature (eg at 25°C it lasts about 160 days and at 30°C it lasts about 55 days)

Habits and habitat: It tolerates dry habitats well, so it inhabits warm and less humid areas in elevated places. It most often inhabits rooms without food, such as bedrooms, living rooms (closets, furniture) and bathrooms.

In 2007, the first finding of Supella longipalpa in Croatia was recorded (Bakić-Plenković).

American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Appearance: Their size ranges from 28-44 mm, they are reddish brown.

Reproduction: The newly left ootheca (an egg case) is brown, in a day or two it becomes a worm. Temperature significantly affects the duration of larval development, usually about 4-15 months.

Habits and habitat: It is present in restaurants, houses, bakeries, shops, stores, markets, food storage facilities and other places where food is prepared and stored. It is often found on ships. It also lives in sewer taps and in the sewage system.