Wingless cockroach

• Adults of C. elegans are 25-35mm long and shiny brown with yellow stripes and margins.
• C. solida males are fully winged, females are wingless.
• Nymphs are initially greyish-brown or tan, developing yellow markings when about half adult size.

• House or American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).
• Other native woodland cockroaches.

• Native to Australia. Recorded as irregular pests in Queensland's Central Highlands.
• Wingless cockroach populations reach highest densities under no tillage with stubble retained.
• Other native cockroaches that have been recorded as minor pests include Cosmozosteria sp. and Platyzosteria sp.

Seedlings of all field crops.

• Small seedlings: feeds on cotyledons and stems, often severing the stem.
• Larger seedlings: feeds on the leaves and growing points.

Wingless cockroaches are nocturnal, feeding at night and sheltering by day under trash.

Use germinating seed baits pre-plant to assess soil pest presence. Take action if 1 or more cockroaches are found per 2 baits.

No effective natural enemies have been identified.

• Baiting with insecticide-treated cracked grain baits.
• If the field has a history of cockroach damage, cultivation and/or destruction of stubble may help reduce populations.