# Japanese cockroach

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The **Japanese cockroach** (***Crescispina japonica***), [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) ***Periplaneta japonica***,[1][2] also known as the **Yamato cockroach**,[3] is a [cockroach](/source/Cockroach) native to Japan, adapted to cooler northern climates.[4][5][6] It has a flexible univoltine or semivoltine (one- or two-year) life cycle, depending on the timing of its hatching, and is unusual in being able to spend two winters as [diapause](/source/Diapause) [nymphs](/source/Nymph_(biology)) before reaching maturity.[5]

## Description

Initial first-[instar](/source/Instar) nymphs are dark brown, with white or brownish white tips of the [maxillary](/source/Maxilla) and labial [palps](/source/Pedipalp). Adults measure 25–35 mm cm in length, and have a shiny, uniformly black to blackish-brown body, with brown [tarsi](/source/Arthropod_leg#Tarsus) and maxillary and labial palps. The adult male's wings extend slightly beyond the body's length, while the female's wings are around half the body's length.[7]

Unlike most cockroaches, the major [hydrocarbon](/source/Hydrocarbon) in *C. japonica*’s cuticular lipids is .[8] Males have significant amounts of not found on females, as do *[V. australasiae](/source/Australian_cockroach)* and *[V. fuliginosa](/source/Smokybrown_cockroach)* males and females.[8] [Glucose](/source/Glucose), [myo-inositol](/source/Myo-inositol), [scyllo-inositol](/source/Scyllo-inositol) and [trehalose](/source/Trehalose) were found in overwintering nymphs and are thought to be a factor in their freeze tolerance.[9]

## Freeze tolerance

Nymphs have been observed in the wild [hibernating](/source/Hibernation) in subfreezing temperatures during winter in snow-covered habitats.[10] Overwintering nymphs were able to survive laboratory supercooling experiments in the -5 to -8 C temperature range, enduring 12 hours of tissue freezing,[9] as well as recover from burial in ice.[3] The ability to walk on ice was also found to be unique among several cockroach species tested.[3]

## Habitat

Primarily an outdoors species, populations are adaptable to living indoors in houses and buildings where food is stored, prepared, or served.[7][11]

## Defense

A *C. japonica* nymph alone or in sparse populations accumulates a viscous secretion along its rear dorsal surface, droplets of which it can be splashed some distance toward a threat through a shaking action. The presence of an aggressive species of ant, *[Formica exsecta](/source/Formica_exsecta)*, triggered this defensive response, rendering the ants helpless.[12]

## Presence as an introduced species

Originally from Japan, *C. japonica* has spread to China, Korea and far eastern Russia, though it is considered a common pest primarily in central and northern Japan.[6][7][11][13]

The species was found in New York City in 2013 by Evangelista *et al.*,[14]: 581[15]: 40[16] the first time the species was found in the United States.[17] It was found by an exterminator beneath plantings in [High Line](/source/High_Line), a [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan) park, and was able to survive over a cold winter.[18] Scientists who confirmed the identity of the species through [genetic testing](/source/Genetic_testing) theorize that it may have been imported in the soil of ornamental plants used in the park.[17] This identification demonstrates the use of [DNA barcoding](/source/DNA_barcoding) for [urban pest control](/source/Urban_pest_control).[14][15]

## References

1. Luo, X.; Deng, W.; Han, W.; Lo, N.; Cai, J.; Che, Y.; & Wang, Z. (2025). "Revision of the cockroach subfamily Blattinae based on morphological and molecular analyses". *Systematic Entomology*. [doi:10.1111/syen.12680](https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12680)

1. [\[1\]](https://cockroach.speciesfile.org/otus/863280/overview)

1. Tanaka, S (May 2002). "Temperature acclimation in overwintering nymphs of a cockroach, *Periplaneta japonica*: walking on ice". *Journal of Insect Physiology*. **48** (5): 571–583. [doi:10.1016/s0022-1910(02)00077-x](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-1910(02)00077-x). [PMID 12770085](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12770085)

1. Encyclopedia of Life. ["Japanese Cockroach - Periplaneta japonica"](http://eol.org/pages/1076801/names/common_names). Retrieved 2013-12-09.

1. Tanaka, Seiji & Uemura, Yoshinobu (August 1996). "Flexible Life Cycle of a Cockroach *Periplaneta japonica* with Nymphal Diapause". *Journal of Orthoptera Research*. '***(5): 213–219. Orthopterists’ Society. [doi:10.2307/3503596](https://doi.org/10.2307/3503596). [JSTOR 3503596](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3503596)***

1. Forman, Rob (9 December 2013). ["Cockroach Never Seen Before in U.S. Is Identified in New York"](http://news.rutgers.edu/news/cockroach-never-seen-us-identified-new-york/20131208). *Rutgers Today*. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Robinson, William H. (14 April 2005). [*Urban Insects and Arachnids: A Handbook of Urban Entomology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=aluUgDVYJ8wC&pg=PA56). Cambridge University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-521-81253-5. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Morris Rockstein (2 December 2012). [*The Physiology of Insecta*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_AUQ_wntE8gC&pg=PA236). Elsevier Science. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-323-16157-2. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Tanaka, Kazuhiro & Tanaka, Seiji (October 1997). ["Winter Survival and Freeze Tolerance in a Northern Cockroach, *Periplaneta japonica* (Blattidae : Dictyoptera)"](http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003323491). *Zoological Science*. **14** (5): 849–853. The Zoological Society of Japan. [doi:10.2108/zsj.14.849](https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.14.849). [ISSN 0289-0003](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0289-0003). Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Yuichiro, Tabaru & Atsushi, Kobayashi (1971). ["Outdoor hibernation of *Periplaneta japonica* (Blattaria: Blattidae) in snowy area"](http://ci.nii.ac.jp/els/110003822562.pdf?id=ART0004993145&type=pdf&lang=jp&host=cinii&order_no=&ppv_type=0&lang_sw=&no=1386583586&cp=) (in Japanese, en). *Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology*. **22** (2): 76–77. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Resh, Vincent H. & Cardé, Ring T. (22 July 2009). [*Encyclopedia of Insects*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Jk0Hym1yF0cC&pg=PA110). Academic Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-08-092090-0. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Ichinose, T & Zennyoji, K (1980). ["Defensive behavior of the cockroaches, *Periplaneta fuliginosa* Serville and *P. japonica* Karny (Orthoptera: Blattidae) in relation to their viscous secretion"](http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19810584258.html). *Applied Entomology and Zoology*. **15** (4): 400–408. [doi:10.1303/aez.15.400](https://doi.org/10.1303/aez.15.400). [ISSN 0003-6862](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0003-6862). Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. ["Catalogue of Life – 19th November 2013: Species details"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131213124334/http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/12679594). *[Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/12679594) on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Foottit, R. & Adler, Peter H. (2017). *Insect Biodiversity : Science and Society*. 2 ed. [Hoboken, NJ](/source/Hoboken,_NJ), USA. pp. xxxi+867. ISBN 978-1-118-94556-8. [OCLC 972640368](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/972640368) ISBN 978-1-78064-537-7. ISBN 9781118945537.

1. Dhang, Partho (2016). *Climate Change Impacts on Urban Pests*. Vol. 10. CABI Climate Change Series – Climate and Weather Series. [Boston, MA](/source/Boston,_MA), USA. pp. ix+189. ISBN 978-1-78064-538-4. [OCLC 950084506](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/950084506) ISBN 9781780645377.

1. Evangelista, Dominic; Buss, Lyle; Ware, Jessica L. (2013-12-01). "Using DNA Barcodes to Confirm the Presence of a New Invasive Cockroach Pest in New York City". *[Journal of Economic Entomology](/source/Journal_of_Economic_Entomology)*. **106** (6): 2275–2279. [Entomological Society of America](/source/Entomological_Society_of_America) ([OUP](/source/Oxford_University_Press)). [doi:10.1603/ec13402](https://doi.org/10.1603/ec13402). [ISSN 0022-0493](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0022-0493). [PMID 24498724](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24498724)

1. ["Cockroach that can endure cold moves into NYC"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/09/invasive-cockroach-nyc/3914719/). *USA Today*. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

1. Frishman, Austin M. & Bello, Paul J. (October 2013). [*The Cockroach Combat Manual II*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qU1AAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA8). Author House. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4918-2064-3. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Japanese cockroach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cockroach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cockroach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.