New aspects about Supella longipalpa (Blattaria: Blattellidae)

The brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Blattaria: Blattellidae) (S. longipalpa), recently has infested the buildings and hospitals in wide areas of Iran, and this review was prepared to identify current knowledge and knowledge gaps about the brown-banded cockroach. Scientific reports and peer-reviewed papers concerning S. longipalpa and relevant topics were collected and synthesized with the objective of learning more about health-related impacts and possible management of S. longipalpa in Iran. Like the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach is a known vector for food-borne diseases and drug resistant bacteria, contaminated by infectious disease agents, involved in human intestinal parasites and is the intermediate host of Trichospirura leptostoma and Moniliformis moniliformis. Because its habitat is widespread, distributed throughout different areas of homes and buildings, it is difficult to control. Considering its possible resistance to insecticides, the control situation may be far more complex. For improved control of S. longipalpa an integrated pest management program is needed. Sanitation, indoor insecticide spraying in the initial cockroach control phase and insecticide formulation baits are recommended simultaneously.