Give an account of female reproductive …

Female reproductive system consists of two large ovaries which lie on the lateral side of the 2nd to 6th abdominal segments. Each ovary consists of 8 ovarioles containing beaded strings of developing ova. Each ovary gives rise to oviduct. Two oviducts from either side join to form common oviduct which open into ******. ****** opens into the genital chamber. A pair of spermatheca present in the 6th segment open into genital chamber.

During copulation, sperm is transferred through spematophores. After copulation, female cockroach secretes a capsule called ootheca which contains the fertilised eggs. Ootheca is a brownish capsule of 8 mm length with fertilised eggs. At about 10 oothecae are laid by the female in the cracks and crevices found in the house. Each ootheca has at about 14 to 16 eggs. Development of cockroach includes nymph stage. Nymph moults around 13 times to transform into an adult.