Male Cockroach vs. Female Cockroach

Main Difference

The main difference between a male cockroach and female cockroach is that male cockroach usually has two pairs of wings, have testes and larger, whereas female cockroach is wingless, shorter in size, and produces eggs.

Difference Between Male Cockroach and Female Cockroach

Comparison Chart

Male Cockroach vs. Female Cockroach

The male cockroach is usually larger up to 15-25mm long whereas female cockroach is smaller in size about 12 mm less than 0.5 inch. The male cockroach has larger wings and extends a little outside the posterior end; on the contrary, the female cockroach is relatively wingless or have smaller wings and extend only up to the posterior end of the body. The abdomen of male cockroach is slender and thin; conversely, the abdomen of the female cockroach is broad and thick. The male cockroach has a pair of anal styles, and a pair of anal cerci are present while female cockroach has only a pair of anal cerci and anal styles are absent. Male cockroach’s genital pouch is covered ventrally by the 9^th sternum and dorsally by 9^th and 10^th terga whereas in female cockroach 7^th sternum is boat-shaped and together with the 8^th and 9^th sterna builds up a genital pouch. The genital pouch in male cockroach contains ventral male genital pore, dorsal anus, and gonapophysis; on the flip side, the anterior end of the genital pouch in female cockroach contains spermathecal spores, female gonopore, and collateral glands. The terminal portion of the abdomen of the male cockroach is point-like while the terminal portion of the abdomen of female cockroach is round.

What is Male Cockroach?

The male cockroach is usually larger up to 15-25mm long. Its habitat is the humid, warm, dark environment, and found in mild climates or other tropical areas. It eats both plant and animal products such as paper, food, clothes, and books. It is shiny black or dark brown and oval. The male has large, fully developed wings extend a little outside the posterior end. It has two ocelli, large compound eyes, and long, flexible antennae. The mouthparts of the male cockroach are on the underside and include salivary glands, mandibles, and various taste and touch receptors. The body of the male divides into a thorax of three segments and in tenth abdominal segment carries two pairs of abdominal appendages. Male cockroach’s genital pouch is covered ventrally by the 9^th sternum and dorsally by 9^th and 10^th terga. The genital pouch in male cockroach contains ventral male genital pore, dorsal anus, and gonapophysis.

What is Female Cockroach?

The female cockroach is smaller in size about 12 mm less than 0.5 inch. Its habitat and feeding are also the same, which is the humid, warm, dark environment, and eats both plant and animal products such as paper, food, clothes, and books. The female cockroach is relatively wingless or has smaller wings. The abdomen of the female cockroach is broad and thick. The female cockroach has a genital pouch in which 7^th sternum is boat-shaped and together with the 8^th and 9^th sterna builds up a genital pouch. The anterior end of the genital pouch in female cockroach contains spermathecal spores, female gonopore, and collateral glands. Female cockroaches are seen having eggs on the end of their abdomen. Female produces ootheca three days after mating and carries it for 20 days. Female may lay up to eight egg cases in a lifetime. Female drops the capsule before hatching, which may take more than five hours to lay. The eggs hatched from combined pressure, and the hatchlings are initially bright nymphs. Developing from egg s to adults takes three to four months.

Conclusion

Above discussion concludes that male cockroach usually has two pairs of wings, have testes and larger, whereas female cockroach is wingless, shorter in size, and produces eggs.