Oriental cockroach by goodoleboy

Photography • Insects • posted on Sep 20, 2009

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Description

Captured 9/19/09, early in the morning, about .40 miles/.644 kilometers from my racy residence. The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) has a glossy, dark-brown or black body. Females can grow up to 1.25 inches in length, while males typically measure less than one-inch long. Neither male nor female Oriental cockroaches are capable of flight. Their life span ranges from one to six months. Oriental cockroaches feed primarily on decaying organic matter. There are about 4,000 species of cockroach, of which 30 species are associated with human habitations and about four species are well known as pests. Source: http://www.orkin.com I really have no insects of interest in my neck of the woods. Okay, the ubiquitous ant, an occasional crane fly, but that's just about it. But then finally, after what seems like eons, I was able to snap a closeup, distraction-free photo of a rather significant insect. While Andrea was posting pics, seemingly day after day, of a vast array of arcane, esoteric and exotic bugs that reside within her general area, I was confined to just sitting there and watching, envy dripping from every pore of my bod. Now it's my turn! So, here is my contribution to the genre, a rather handsome one at that, and gracious and obliging enough to have stopped moving so I could take a carefree macro of it. I would have taken other POVs but my arthritic knees wouldn't allow it. Also, I wish the background would have been a pure white so as to pop out all of the teeny little details, such as the tiny hairs on the legs and on the antennae, speaking of which, the left antenna is longer than the right. And, please, no Asian or arthritis jokes. Finally, I did extensive research on this, so this had better be an Oriental cockroach, or I'm in deep yogurt. Thankx for the visit, and tallyho.

Comments (17)

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durleybeachbum

3:49PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

How exciting, Harry!! It's very colourful and quite cute! Thankyou for the bat link!

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babuci

5:52PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Not my cup of tea, bugs kind of give me a shiver but I have to say you mannaged a colors nicely and a legs details is perfect.

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morningglory

7:41PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

OK, my stomach is turning, which means this must be a pretty good pic of a nasty Cockroach. We see plenty of them here, by the way.

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myrrhluz

7:41PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

My first thought was "Oh, no! not more roaches" and then, "Well at least they don't fly." Someone should have been around to take pictures the first time I discovered that some huge, ugly roaches fly. I don't much care for roaches but you captured it very well.

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goodoleboy

7:52PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Okay, so you don't like roaches, and they make you shudder, but they've been around for zillions of years, and will still be around after our species is long gone.

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mbz2662

8:14PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Ick!!!! Good shots of this much hated insect. shiver ...and where's the bug spray?! lol

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goodoleboy

8:25PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Like I said above, they're going to have the last laugh.

frankie96

8:42PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Harry..just be glad this critter was not on your kitchen floor...and your right..anything less than a nuke won't get rid of them totally..

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odie

9:51PM | Sun, 20 September 2009

Ohhhh... I did NOT get to see one while in San Diego. (Thank GOD) But I have a host of bugs here in Minn. I have heard that tidbit about cockroaches outlasting us - I think is was during a nuclear war discussion...

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Meisiekind

2:21AM | Mon, 21 September 2009

Yikes... shivers running down my spine! Great image of a rather nasty bug Harry! Well done! :)

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Alz2008

2:56AM | Mon, 21 September 2009

Wonderful capture, excellent well done..

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Digitaleagle

4:32AM | Mon, 21 September 2009

Oriental cockroach sounds good to me. You were able to get good detail inspite of the difficult circumstance!!! Excellent capture and congrats on finding a bug to shot. LOL!!

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MrsRatbag

9:03AM | Mon, 21 September 2009

I would have been very tempted to step on it...but there is a peculiar beauty to its armor. This species is a bit prettier than the usual ones I've seen scurrying around! And it does have very hairy legs. Nice catch!

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bmac62

10:04PM | Mon, 21 September 2009

Harry...got to pass on this one...but you did an excellent job of photographing him for your gallery. I am sure some of my birds would like him for a quick meal:)

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debbielove

6:49AM | Tue, 22 September 2009

What an attractive beastie! I'm not well up with the art of insect spotting either... So.. I leave it to others.. But this is a fine picture, my friend.. You have done well.. Rob.

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