Generally, egg capsules are deposited in places where food is readily available. Eggs hatch in about two months. Males and females have different wing formation. The shiny black female has rudimentary wing stubs with definite venation. The adult females may live from 34 to 181 days.
Oriental roaches are omnivorous, but they prefer to feed on starchy foods.
They are less wary and more sluggish than other cockroaches. Their ideal habitat temperatures range from about 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They are typically found in dark, damp basements, crawlspaces, areas between soil and the foundation, underneath sidewalks, in sewer pipes, floor drains and any other cool, moist place. Oriental cockroaches are important pests in residences, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, cruise ships, railroad cars, warehouses and many other places where sufficient food and water are available. They are of public health importance because they can mechanically transmit pathogenic organisms, and are a source of powerful allergens.