The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also known as the palmetto bug or waterbug particularly in the southern United States (Cassidy and Hall 2002), is the largest common species of pest cockroach. It is native to Africa, and is a pest worldwide, especially in the tropics and subtropics. In Europe and other countries with cooler climates, the American cockroach is rarely found out of doors. It is often found in bakeries, warehouses, hotels, zoos, greenhouses, mines, sewers and ships. It scavenges for food but can survive long periods of starvation. Adults live for between 4 to 21 months and the eggs hatch in 4-12 weeks. Extensively modified from Wikipedia.