Life Cycle of Cockroach

Life Cycle

Life cycle of cockroach is simple.

Copulation : Female secretes yellow coloured pheromones for attracting males. During copulation spermatophore of male is attached with spermatheca of female.

Fertilization : Fertilization takes place in female genital chamber. From 16 ovarioles, 16 ova are released, which are arranged in ootheca after fertilization.

Formation of ootheca : Secretion of collaterial glands form ootheca. Wall of ootheca is formed of scleroproteins.

Developement : Eggs are polylecithal, centrolecithal and cleidoic. Cleavage begins in ootheca. Cleavage is meroblastic and superficial. Within ootheca, 16 nymphs develop in 5 to 12weeks. Ootheca ruptures and nymphs are liberated.

Metamorphosis: In cockroach metamorphosis is paurometabolous or gradual metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is completed in about 2 years.

Ecdysone stimulates moulting or ecdysis. Juvenile hormone secreted from corpora allata regulates rate of growth and tissue differentiation. Moulting in nymph occurs 8 to 10 times.