Asian Cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo (Insecta: Blattodea: Blattellidae)

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Introduction The Asian cockroach was identified as a newly introduced species to the United States in 1986 when a professional pest control operator collected these insects in Lakeland, Florida. He referred to them as German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), but noted that their behavior was unlike any other German cockroaches that he had previously encountered. Upon further investigation the cockroaches were found to be Blattella asahinai, Asian cockroaches. Distribution and Habits The Asian cockroach was first described in 1981 from insects collected on Okinawa Island, Japan. Blattella asahinai was most likely introduced into the United States through imports from Japan. Since the first identification of Blattella asahinai in Lakeland (Polk County), it has spread through much of Florida and is reported in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas.