Blattodea Culture Group

This unidentified member of the Epilamprinae had been caught and killed by a spider. The spider had wrapped two strands of web around the cockroach and the leaf to prevent it falling while it was eaten. There are many species of Epilamprinae in Borneo and presumably they provide a good lunch for many spiders! Photo copyright Phil Bragg.

This very well known species has been kept in culture for many years. They are easy to rear and, as can be seen from this photo, nymphs and adults spend most of their time on the surface. Photograph by Phil Bragg.

This very well known species has been kept in culture for many years. Photograph by Phil Bragg.

Drawing from "An Introduction to Rearing Cockroaches" by Phil Bragg.

This very well known species has been kept in culture for many years. Photograph by Phil Bragg.

Drawing from "An Introduction to Rearing Cockroaches" by Phil Bragg.

Drawing from "An Introduction to Rearing Cockroaches" by Phil Bragg.

This species, from Cuba, has been reared for many years. It has been imported several times and there are some slight differences between cultures. The roaches in this photo (and adult female, and a nymph lying upside-down) are from a pale coloured culture; most are darker than these.
Photographed by Phil Bragg.

By Darren Mann (Curatorial Officer, Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK)

The papers on cockroach rearing techniques listed by Bodenstein & Fales (1969) are now somewhat out of date, although many of the works cited are still useful. The bibliography provided here includes some of the more important works listed by these authors and updates their list to the end of 2004, with papers considered to contain valuable culturing techniques for cockroaches.

• Alsop, D. W. 1990. Cockroach culturing. pp. 13-32. In: Huber, I., Masler, E. P. & Rao, B. R. (Eds). Cockroaches as Models for Neurobiology: Applications in Biomedical Research, Volume I. CRC Press Inc., Florida.
• Anon. 1970. SABS 457 Rearing and Handling the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana L. ) for the Evaluation of Pesticides (Metric Units). Council of the South African Bureau of Standards. 3pp.
• Anon. 1970. SABS 458 Rearing and Handling the German cockroach (Blattella germanica L. ) for the Evaluation of Pesticides (Metric Units). Council of the South African Bureau of Standards. 3pp.
• Anon. 1980. How to grow your own cockroaches. Pest Control, 48(7): 30-34.
• Appel, A. G., Van-Dyke, A. M. & Rust, M. K. 1983. A technique for rearing and some notes on the biology of a desert sand cockroach Arenivaga investigata (Dictyoptera: Polyphagidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 85(3): 598-600.
• Banks, W. M. 1969. Observations on the rearing and maintenance of Blaberus giganteus (Orthoptera: Blaberidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 62(6): 1211-1312.
• Barson, G. & Renn, N. 1983. Hatching from oothecae of the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) under laboratory culture conditions and after premature removal. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 34(2): 179-185.
• Becker, J. C. 1970. Hiereoblatta cassidea (Esch., 1822) (Blaberidae, Dictyoptera). Revista Brasileira de Entomologica, 14(9): 63-71.
• Bell, W. J. 1981. The Laboratory Cockroach. Chapman & Hall, London. 161pp.
• Benson, E. P. & Huber, I. 1989. Oviposition behaviour and site preference of the brown banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Fab. ) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Journal of Entomological Science, 24(1): 84-91.
• Benschoter, C. A. & Wrenn, R. T. 1972. Germ-free techniques for establishment and maintenance of a colony of aseptic German cockroaches. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 65(3): 641-644.
• Bodenstein, O. F. & Fales, J. H. 1969. A list of references on the rearing of cockroaches for experimental purposes. Pest Control, 37(7): 30-34.
• Bottimer, L. J. 1945. Roach rearing and testing. Soap and Sanitary Chemicals, N. Y., 21(12): 151-157.
• Boyer, S. & Rivault, C. 2004. Life history traits of cockroaches in sugar-cane fields in La Réunion (Blattodea: Blattellidae & Blaberidae). Oriental Insects, 38: 373-388.
• Brady, U. E. & Sternburg, J. 1964. Influence of anaesthesia on the toxicity of TEPP and SD-3562. Journal of Economic Entomology, 57(1): 173-174.
• Bragg, P. E. 1997. Rearing aquatic cockroaches. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society, 56: 117-121.
• Bragg, P. E. 1997. An Introduction to Rearing Cockroaches. Published by the author, Ilkeston, U. K. 15pp.
• Brooks, M. A. 1957. Growth retarding effect of carbon dioxide anaesthesia on the German cockroach. Journal of Insect Physiology, 1(1): 76-84.
• Brooks, M. A. 1965. The effects of repeated anaesthesia on the biology of Blattella germanica (L.) Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 8: 39-48.
• Brooks, M. A. & Richards, A. G. 1955. Intracellular symbiosis in cockroaches. I. production of aposymbiotic cockroaches. Biologist Bulletin, 109(1): 22-39.
• Brooks, M. A. & Richards, A. G. 1956. Intracellular symbiosis in cockroaches. III. Re-infection of aposymbiotic cockroaches with symbionts. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 132(3): 447-465.
• Brown, V. K. 1973. Collection and culture of field-dwelling cockroaches for experimental purposes. Entomologist, 106: 114-117.
• Brown, V. K. 1973. The over-wintering stages of Ectobius lapponicus (L. ) (Dictyoptera: Blattidae). Journal of Entomology, Ser. A., 48(1): 11-24.
• Brown, V. K. & Rider, L. 1974. Improved technique for rearing over-wintering cockroach nymphs. Entomologist's Gazette, 25: 44.
• Brues, C. T. & Dunn, R. C. 1945. The effect of penicillin and certain sulphur drugs on the intracellular bacteroids of the cockroach. Science, 101(2622): 336-337.
• Busvine, J. R. 1971. A Critical Review of the Techniques for Testing Insecticides. Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux. 333pp.
• Cameron, E. 1953. Some new and improved methods for demonstrating the cockroach. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, Ser. A., 28(4-6): 41-44.
• Chon, T. S. & Park, Y. S. 1993. Quantitative observation in the behavior of the smoky brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa (Serville): Presence at important micro-habitats of rearing cages in the laboratory. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology, 32(3): 354-371.
• Clarke, P. S. 1973. Cockroach Culture. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society, 32: 151-53.
• Clayton, R. B. 1959. A simplified method for the culture of Blattella germanica under aseptic conditions. Nature (London), 184(4693): 1166-1167.
• Cochran, D. G. 1979. A method for rearing the sand cockroach, Arenivaga tonkowa (Dictyoptera: Polyphagidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 81(4): 580-582.
• Cornwell, P. B. 1968. The Cockroach. Vol. 1, Hutchinson and Co., London. 391pp.
• Cornwell, P. B. 1976. The Cockroach. Vol. 2. Associated Business Programmes, London. 557pp.
• Cummings, E. C. & Menn, J. J. 1946. Notes on amphibious cockroaches from the republic of Panama. Entomological News, 57(7): 171-172.
• Cummings, E. C. & Menn, J. J. 1959. An American cockroach rearing cage. Journal of Economic Entomology, 52: 1227-1228.
• Dahm, P. A. 1955. A convenient method for rearing large cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 48: 480-482.
• Davis, W. T. 1930. Rearing the young of the viviparous cockroach, Panchlora cubensis. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 38(2): 85-88.
• Dold, J. 1964. How to trap and rear roaches for display and resistance testing. Pest Control, 32: 18-20.
• Edmunds, L. R. 1953. Collecting and culturing native wood cockroaches in Ohio, with some additional notes on their parasites. Entomological News, 64: 225-230.
• Ebeling, W. & Wagner, R. E. 1963. Teflon as barrier to insects. Journal of Economic Entomology, 56(5): 715-716.
• Field, G., Savage, L. B. & Dupleslisis, R. J. 1966. Note on the cockroach mite Pimeliaphilus cunliffei (Acarina: Pterygosomidae) infesting oriental, German and American cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 59(6): 1532.
• Fischer, R. W. & Jursic, F. 1958. Rearing houseflies and roaches for physiological research. The Canadian Entomologist, 90: 1-7.
• Fisk, F. W. 1951. Use of a specific mite control in roach and mouse culture. Journal of Economic Entomology, 44: 1016.
• Gangwere, S. K. 1960. The feeding and culturing of Orthoptera in the laboratory. Entomological News, 71(1-2): 37-45.
• Gier, H. T. 1947. Growth rate in the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L. ). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 40: 303-317.
• Gilbert, I. H. 1964. Laboratory rearing of cockroaches, bedbugs, human lice and fleas. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 31: 561-563.
• Glaser, R. A. 1930. On the isolation, cultivation and classification of the so-called intracellular "symbionts" or "rickettsia" of Periplaneta americana (L. ). Journal of Experimental Medicine, 51: 59-81.
• Gould, G. E. 1941. Effect of temperature upon the development of cockroaches. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 50: 1-15.
• Gould, G. E. & Deay, H. O. 1938. The biology of the American cockroach. Annals of the American Entomological Society, 31: 289-498.
• Grady, A. G. 1928. Studies in breeding insects throughout the year for insecticide tests II. Roaches, clothes moths and weevils. Journal of Economic Entomology, 21(4): 608-612.
• Griffiths, J. T. & Tauber, O. E. 1942. Fecundity, longevity and parthenogenesis of the American roach, Periplaneta americana (L. ). Physiological Zoology, 15: 196-209.
• Guthrie, D. M. & Tindall, A. R. 1968. The Biology of the Cockroach. St. Martin's Press, New York. 408pp.
• Haskins, K. P. F. 1962. A new system for rearing the American cockroach. Entomologist, 95: 27-29.
• Hausman, S. A. 1955. Raising cockroaches in the laboratory. Turtox News, 33(1): 36.
• Haydak, M. H. 1936. A food for rearing laboratory animals. Journal of Economic Entomology, 29: 1026.
• Heal, R. E. 1948. Rearing methods for German and American cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 41: 329-330.
• Heimpel, A. M. & West, A. S. 1959. Notes on the pathogenicity of Serratia marcescens Bizio for the cockroach, Blattella germanica (L. ). Physiological Zoology, 11: 89-103.
• House, H. L. 1949. Nutritional studies with Blattella germanica (L. ) reared under aseptic conditions. II. A chemically defined diet. Canadian Entomologist, 81(5): 105-112.
• House, H. L. 1949. Nutritional studies with Blattella germanica (L. ) reared under aseptic conditions. III. Five essential amino acids. Canadian Entomologist, 81(6): 133-139.
• House, H. L. & Patton, R. L. 1949. Nutritional studies with Blattella germanica (L. ) reared under aseptic conditions. I. Equipment and technique. Canadian Entomologist, 81(4): 94-100.
• Iglisch, I. & Moller, L. 1990. Erhaltungszucht mit Uberschuss von Blatta orientalis (Blattariae, Blattidae). Anzeiger fuer Schaedlingskunde Pflanzenschutz Umweltschutz, 63(2): 25-32.
• Kapanadze, E. I. 1971. The biology of a Turkestan cockroach, Shelfordella tartara Sauss. in the insectary. Meditsinskaya Parazitologiya i Parazitarnye Bolezni, 40(5): 595-600.
• Kelley, J. M. 1929. Living plants and animals for the biology laboratory the common cockroach. Turtox News, 7(11): 85.
• King, E. G. & Leppla, N. C. (Eds). 1984. Advances and Challenges in Insect Rearing. Agricultural Research Service (Southern Region), U. S. Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, LA. xvi + 306pp.
• Koehler, P. G., Strong, C. A. & Patterson, R. S. 1994. Rearing improvements for the German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 31(5): 704-710.
• Komiyama, M. & Ogata, K. 1981. Observations on the life history of the Japanese cockroach Periplaneta japonica under outdoor conditions. Medical Entomology and Zoology, 32(2): 111-115.
• Koo, S. H., Lee, H. P., Hong, H. K. & Lee, C. S. 1984. The life history of the smoky-brown cockroach Periplaneta fuliginosa Serville. Korean Journal of Entomology, 14(1): 81-86.
• Koshy, T. & Mallik, D. 1968. An improved method for rearing and maintaining large colonies of the American cockroach in the laboratory. Journal of Economic Entomology, 61(6): 1748-1750.
• Ma, A. N. & Wang, H. P. 2000. Manufacture of an automatic layer-dividing machine for the stereoscopic breeding of Eupolyphaga sinensis. Chinese Journal of Zoology, 35(1): 31-33.
• McCay, C. M. & Melampy, R. M. 1937. Family Blattidae. Care and rearing of Blattella germanica (L. ). pp. 283-284. In: Galstoff et al., 1937, Culture Methods for Invertebrate Animals. Comstock Publishing Company, New York.
• Manning, G. R. 1997. Rearing the pale-bordered field cockroach, Pseudomops septentrionalis Hebard (Blattellidae). pp. 60-61. In: Invertebrates in Captivity: Conference Proceedings, July 31-August 3, 1997. Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. Tucson, Arizona.
• Matthiesen, F. A. 1988. Pycnoscelus surinamensis L.: uma fonte permanente de alimento para escorpioes mantidos em cativeiro (Dictyoptera, Panchloridae). Revista de Agricultura (Piracicaba), 63(3): 249-252.
• Mehrota, O. N., Petri, S. L. & Agarwal, P. N. 1937. A laboratory technique of culturing cockroaches. Indian Journal of Entomology, 27(3): 358-360.
• Mills, R. R. 1966. A cockroach rearing cage designed for the collection of oothecae. Journal of Economic Entomology, 59(2): 490.
• Mira, A. & Raubenheimer, D. 2002. Divergent nutrition-related adaptations in two cockroach populations inhabiting different environments. Physiological Entomology, 27(4): 330-339.
• Mitsuhashi, J. 2001. Development of highly nutritive culture media. In-vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology Animal, 37(6): 330-337.
• Morgan, N. D. 1985. Blattidae. pp. 321-328. In: Singh, P. & Moore, R. F. (Eds). Handbook of Insect Rearing. Volume 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
• Noland, J. L. 1956. An improved method for rearing cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 49: 411-412.
• Noland, J. L., Lilly, J. H. & Bauman, C. A. 1949. A laboratory method for rearing cockroaches, and its application to dietary studies on the German roach. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 42(1) 63-70.
• Nutting, W. L. 1953. Giant cockroaches of the genus Blaberus as laboratory animals. Turtox News, 31(8): 134-137.
• Pawlik, J. 1966. Control of the nematode Leidynema appendiculata (Leidy) in laboratory cultures of the American cockroach. Journal of Economic Entomology, 59(2): 468-469.
• Park, Y. C. & Choe, J. C. 2003. Life history and population dynamics of Korean woodroach (Cryptocercus kyebangensis) populations. Korean Journal of Biological Sciences, 7(2): 111-117.
• Pope, P. 1953. Studies of the life histories of some Queensland Blattidae (Orthoptera). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 63(2): 23-46.
• Price, R. G. & Howell, D. E. 1969. Population changes in four species of cockroach maintained together in small containers. Journal of Economic Entomology, 62(5): 1164-1165.
• Rau, P. 1940. The life history of the wood-roach Parcoblatta pennyslyvanica Degeer (Orthoptera: Blattidae). Entomological News, 51(1): 4-9
• Rau, P. 1940. The life history of the wood-roach Parcoblatta pennyslyvanica Degeer (Orthoptera: Blattidae). Entomological News, 51(2): 33-35.
• Rochford, Rev. P. J. 1957. A breeding observation chamber for the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). School Science Review, 38: 450-452.
• Rogez, L. 1996. Elevage de blattes du Perou. Blabera fusca. Revue de l'Association Roussillonnaise d'Entomologie, 5(3): 77.
• Rogez, L. 1996. Elevage de blattes souffleuses Gromphadorhina portentosa. Revue de l'Association Roussillonaise d'Entomologie, 5(1): 8.
• Roth, L. M. 1967. Water changes in cockroach Oothecae in relation to the evolution of ovoviviparity and viviparity. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 60(5): 928-946.
• Roth, L. M. 1968. Reproduction of some poorly known species of Blattaria. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 61(3): 572-579.
• Roth, L. M. & Willis, E. R. 1954. The reproduction of cockroaches. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 122(12): 1-49.
• Roth, L. M. & Willis, E. R. 1956. Parthenogenesis in cockroaches. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 49: 195-204.
• Rust, M. K. & Appel, A. G. 1985. Intra- and Inter-specific aggregation in some nymphal Blattellid cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 78: 107-10.
• Scharrer, B. 1951. The woodroach. Scientific American, 185(6): 58-62.
• Sieburth, J. F. & Bonsall, M. G. 1951. A simplified biological assay method using the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linn.), for protein utilization. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 44(3): 463-468.
• Singh, P. 1977. Artificial Diets for Insects, Mites and Spiders. IFI/Plenum Data Company. 594pp.
• Smittle, B. J. 1966. Cockroaches. pp. 227-240. In: Smith, C. N. (Ed. ). Insect Colonisation and Mass Production. Academic Press.
• Takagi, M. . 1978. Ecological studies on the smoky-brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa S. III. Rearing experiments on the adult emergence, longevity, oviposition, and the development of the egg stage outdoors in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Mie Medical Journal, 28(1): 9-19.
• Takagi, M. 1978. Ecological studies on the smoky-brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa S. 2. A rearing experiment on the nymphal development outdoors in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Mie Medical Journal, 27(3): 85-92.
• Takagi, M. 1978. Ecological studies on the smoky-brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa S. 3. Rearing experiments on the adult emergence, longevity, oviposition, and the development of the egg stage outdoors in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Mie Medical Journal, 28(1): 9-19.
• Tinnesen, K. 2003. Opdraet af foderdyr - hvor svaert kan det vaere?! [Rearing insects for food - how difficult can it be?!] Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening, 46(3): 89-95.
• Tropek, R. 2003. Chov svabu Nauphoeta cinerea jako krmiva. [Breeding the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea as food for other animals]. Akvarium Terarium, 46(3): 66-69.
• Tsuji, H. & Mizuno, T. 1971. Laboratory use of first instar nymphs of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, 22(1): 240-247.
• Vantomme, G. 1991. [Feeding: Blaptica dubia Argentinean wood cockroach]. Aquariumwereld, 44(11): 248.
• Wang, Q. & Zhou, J. 1989. A new method for rearing small population of Blattella germanica. Entomological Knowledge, 26(2): 105-106.
• Wagner, R. E., Ebeling, W. & Clark, W. R. 1964. An electric barrier for confining cockroaches in large rearing or field cans. Journal of Economic Entomology, 57: 1007-1009.
• Washburn, F. L. 1913. A successful trap for cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 6: 237-29.
• Webb, A. & Webb, F. 1987. Breeding Live Food for Reptiles and Tarantulas. Fitzgerald Publications, London. 16pp.
• Wharton, D. R. A., Lola, J. E., & Wharton, M. L. 1967. Population density, survival, growth and development of the American cockroach. Journal of Insect Physiology, 13: 669-716.
• Wharton, D. R. A., Lola, J. E. & Wharton, M. L. 1968. Growth factors and population density in the American cockroach Periplaneta americana. Journal of Insect Physiology, 14(5): 637-653.
• Whitlaw, J. T. & Smith, L. W. 1964. Equipment for trapping and rearing the American cockroach Perplaneta americana. Journal of Economic Entomology, 57(1): 164-165.
• Wileyto, E. P. & Boush, G. M. 1983. A new method for individually rearing the German cockroach (Orthoptera: Blattellidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 76(3): 676-677.
• Willis, E. R. 1966. Biology and behaviour of Panchlora irrorata, a cockroach adventive on bananas (Blattaria: Blaberidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 59(3): 515-516.
• Willis, E. R. 1969. Bionomics of three cockroaches (Latiblattella) from Honduras. Biotropica, 1(2): 41-46.
• Willis, E. R. & Lewis, N. 1957. The longevity of starved Cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 50: 438-440.
• Willis, E. R., Riser, G. R. & Roth, L. M. 1958. Observations on the reproduction and development in cockroaches. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 51(1): 53-69.
• Wright, C. G. 1973. Life history of the brown cockroach. Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society, 8(4): 274-277.
• Wright, C. G. 1979. Life history of the smokeybrown cockroach. Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society, 14(1): 69-75.
• Yu, C., Liu, J. & Wang, K. 1993. Rearing method for Blattaria in northern China. Chinese Wildlife, 3: 19-21.
• Zabinski, J. 1928. The growth of black beetles and of cockroaches on artificial and on incomplete diets. Part I. British Journal of Experimental Biology, 6(2): 360-386.