Cryptocercidae
Cryptocercidae is a unique family of cockroaches known as wood cockroaches, native to North America and Asia. The sole genus within this family is Cryptocercus, which includes insects that typically measure about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in length and are characterized by their slender, flat bodies, long antennae, and wings in males. Unlike other cockroaches that have an omnivorous diet, Cryptocercids primarily consume wood, thanks to their symbiotic relationship with specific protozoans that help them digest cellulose, a component of wood.
These nocturnal insects inhabit wooded areas and buildings, where they can often be found in woodpiles. Mating rituals involve the exchange of pheromones and antennae rubbing, after which females lay eggs in protective capsules. Young Cryptocercids are born pale and gain color shortly after, growing through a process called molting. While they face natural predators and threats from human pest control, traditional pesticides are often ineffective against them. Instead, managing their habitats away from human dwellings is a more effective strategy. The life span of these cockroaches is typically at least six months.
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Cryptocercidae
Cryptocercidae is a species of cockroach native to North America and Asia. This family of cockroach is distinct because they are able to eat wood. They are referred to as wood cockroaches for this reason. The single genus in the family Cryptocercidae is Cryptocercus.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Cruptocercidae
Genus: Cryptocerus
Species: garcial
Like other cockroaches, cryptocercids are slender, flat, brown insects with long, thin antennae and wings. They grow to be approximtately 1 1/2 inches (four centimeters) long and are divided into three distinct body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. Male wood cockroaches have the ability to fly.
Cryptocercids typically inhabit wooded areas and buildings constructed with wood. Unlike other omnivorous cockroaches, which eat both plants and meat, cryptocercids feed mostly on wood. Although many other insects eat wood, most cannot digest its main substance, cellulose. Cryptocercids, like termites, can digest cellulose because of their special relationship with certain microscopic organisms. Cryptocercids keep a small number of protozoans, or tiny one-celled organisms, in a pouch near their guts. These protozoans process the cellulose from the wood and release it back into the cryptocercids' guts in a form which they can digest. In return for their work, cryptocercids provide the protozoans with food and a safe place to live. Like other cockroaches, cryptocercids are nocturnal, or night-active.
Cryptocercids are preyed upon by other insects like spiders, reptiles, and amphibians. They are also threatened by humans who wish to rid these insects from homes or offices. Like other cockroaches, cryptocercids are able to escape many of their predators by running quickly into hiding with their strong legs and slipping into cracks and crevices with their slender, flat bodies.
Male and female cryptocercids are attracted to each another because of chemicals known as pheromones. Female cryptocercids emit pheremoes to attract mates. When males and females are together they begin the mating process with a ritual of antennae rubbing. When the rubbing is finished, the males fertilizes the females' egg pouches. These pouches may contain between five and fifty eggs. The eggs are neatly arranged in bundles lined up in two rows. Soon after the eggs are fertilized the females deposit the eggs onto the ground in tough capsules called oothecae. Each female deposits one ootheca during each mating time. The eggs develop within the oothecae for thiry to sixty days before hatching.
Young cryptocercids are born pale white but gain their color within a few hours. Although they do not have wings, they are similar to their parents in body shape. Young cryptocercids reach their full-grown size and shape by molting several times. Molting means to grow a new, larger body beneath the outer layer of the current body. Each time they molt, they break out of their dead outer layers and continue growing in their new, larger bodies. Young cryptocercids are not born with protozoans in their gut. They become infected by the protozoans by eating the waste products of mature cryptocercids.
Many pesticides used to control household cockroaches are ineffective against wood cockroaches. A more effective control technique is to move breeding locations, such as woodpiles, away from domiciles.
The life span of cockroaches is at least six months.
Related species include several types of brown-hooded cockroach:
- Brown-hooded cockroach(Cryptocerus punctulatus)
- Wright's brown-hooded cockroach(Cryptocerus wrighti)
- Brown-hooded cockroach (Cryptocerus darwini)
Bibliography
“Cryptocercidae.” Animal Diversity Web, 2024, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cryptocercidae/classification. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.
“Wood Cockroach.” Iowa State University, yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/wood-cockroach. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.
“Wood Cockroaches.” Penn State Extension, 21 Feb. 2023, extension.psu.edu/wood-cockroaches. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.