Topic: Morphology of cockroach
- I. GenÂerÂal CharÂacÂterÂisÂtics:
- Species: PeriÂplanÂeÂta amerÂiÂcana (comÂmon species)
- Size: 34–53 mm long (adults)
- Wings: Extend beyond abdomen tip in males.
- Body SegÂmenÂtaÂtion: Three disÂtinct regions:
- Head
- ThoÂrax
- Abdomen
- ExoskeleÂton: Hard, chitiÂnous, brown in colÂor.
- ScleÂrites: HardÂened plates on exoskeleÂton segÂments:
- TerÂgites (dorÂsal)
- SterÂnÂites (venÂtral)
- ArticÂuÂlar MemÂbrane: Thin, flexÂiÂble memÂbrane (arthroÂdiÂal memÂbrane) joinÂing scleÂrites.
- II. Head:
- Shape: TriÂanÂguÂlar.
- PosiÂtion: AnteÂriÂor, at right angles to body axis.
- ForÂmaÂtion: Fusion of six segÂments.
- MobilÂiÂty: Great mobilÂiÂty in all direcÂtions due to flexÂiÂble neck.
- ComÂpound Eyes: Present.
- AntenÂnae: Pair of thread-like antenÂnae from memÂbraÂnous sockÂets in front of eyes.
- FuncÂtion: SenÂsoÂry recepÂtors for enviÂronÂment monÂiÂtorÂing.
- MouthÂparts: BitÂing and chewÂing type.
- Labrum: Upper lip.
- Mandibles: Paired.
- MaxÂilÂlae: Paired.
- LabiÂum: LowÂer lip.
- HypopharÂynx: MediÂan flexÂiÂble lobe, acts as tongue, withÂin mouthÂpart cavÂiÂty.
- III. ThoÂrax:
- Regions: Three parts:
- ProÂthoÂrax
- MesothoÂrax
- MetathoÂrax
- Neck: Short extenÂsion of proÂthoÂrax conÂnectÂing head to thoÂrax.
- Legs: Each thoÂracic segÂment bears a pair of walkÂing legs.
- Wings:
- Forewings (TegmiÂna): Arise from mesothoÂrax, opaque, dark, leathÂery, covÂer hind wings at rest.
- Hind wings: Arise from metathoÂrax, transÂparÂent, memÂbraÂnous, used in flight.
- Regions: Three parts:
- IV. Abdomen:
- SegÂmenÂtaÂtion: 10 segÂments in both males and females.
- Female:
- 7th sterÂnum: Boat-shaped, forms (with 8th and 9th sterÂna) brood/genital pouch.
- GenÂiÂtal Pouch ConÂtents: Female gonoÂpore, sperÂmathÂeÂcal pores, colÂlatÂerÂal glands.
- Male:
- GenÂiÂtal Pouch/Chamber: At hind end, boundÂed by 9th and 10th terÂga (dorÂsalÂly) and 9th sterÂnum (venÂtralÂly).
- GenÂiÂtal Pouch ConÂtents: DorÂsal anus, venÂtral male genÂiÂtal pore, gonapophyÂses.
- Anal Styles: Pair of short, thread-like strucÂtures, present only in males.
- Both SexÂes:
- 10th segÂment: Bears a pair of jointÂed, filÂaÂmenÂtous anal cerÂci.