Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) Systematic position, habits and habitat

    Periplaneta americana 

 Classification 

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Phylum            -Arthropoda                 =Presence of Jointed Appendages 

Sub-phylum     -Mandibulata               -Mandibles are present

Class                -Insecta                       -Three pair of walking legs . Body is divisible into Head,

-Neck, Thorax and Abdomen.

Division           -Exopterrygota            -Presence of straight wing

Order               -Dictyoptera                - Presence of two pair of wing

Genus              -Periplaneta    

Species            -americana

           

Habits, Habitat and External morphology 

                Cockroaches are belong to the class insect of phylum Arthropod as they have jointed appendages.  They are found in tropical regions of the world.

They are nocturnal omnivores that live in dark and damp places where plenty of organic food is available. These insects lives with human habitation, they are serious pests and vectors of several diseases. 
Cockroach is omnivorous in feeding habit. The body measures about 34-53 mm long with wings that extend beyond the tip of the abdomen in males. The color of the body is brown or black and has long antenna, jointed appendages, three pairs of walking legs.  The body of cockroach is divisible into head, neck, thorax, and abdomen. Head bears mouth parts, pair of compound eyes, antennae.

The body of the cockroach is segmented. The body of cockroach is covered by a hard chitinous exoskeleton in the form of hardened plates called sclerites or sclerite plates. The sclerite plate present on dorsal side are called Tergal plates or tergites. The sclerite plates present on ventral side are called sternal plates or  sternites. The terga and sterna are laterally joined together by flexible articular membrane (arthrodial membrane). Sexes are separate. Sexual di-morphism in cockroach is distinct. In male there is presence of anul style, in female are absent.