Re-descriptions, life cycles and diversity of the cockroaches (Order: Blattodea) of southern Louisiana

The state of Louisiana has a subtropical climate and contains six distinct ecoregions. For the current study two ecoregions that comprise the central southern part of the state are being surveyed. This faunistic survey of cockroaches is being done to gain a better understanding of the diversity, life histories, and taxonomy of both adults and nymphs. Blattodea, excluding the newly included epifamily Termitoidae, is an understudied order of insects in spite of the importance of peridomestic pest species. Complete information on life histories is lacking for the majority of species. Survey methods used for this survey include; hanging Malaise traps, pitfall traps, mercury vapor light traps, and hand collecting. These methods are being utilized monthly, spring through fall, with first collections from summer 2014. To date, 505 field-collected specimens representing 14 species have been examined and identified. These along with specimens examined from the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum collection have been used to re-describe species with out of date descriptions and create a key to adult males, adult females, and nymphs of all cockroach species state wide. Significant findings include an expanded distribution of Euthlastoblatta gemma (Hebard), which had previously been recorded only from Orleans Parish Louisiana and detailed documentation of the life cycles of captured specimens. This study of southern Louisiana cockroaches will contribute to the global knowledge of the diversity and life history of organisms that are increasingly being viewed as model organisms.