Cockroach's head, LM

Cockroach's head. Light micrograph (LM) of the head and mouthparts of the American cockroach (Periplaneta orientalis). The head consists of two hemispherical compound eyes (top). At the base of the eyes are the segmented antennae. The mouthparts are below the antennae. From centre, they are: the labrum; the two jaws or mandibles (either side of the labrum, with dark brown teeth); two jointed bifurcated maxillae (outside the mandibles); the labium (below the mandibles). The labium ends in the hypopharynx (bottom centre), with the paraglossa and labial palps on either side. The Blattodea include some thirty species of cockroaches associated with humans. They feed on human and pet food and can leave an offensive odor. They can passively transport pathogenic microbes on their body surfaces, particularly in environments such as hospitals. Magnification: x14 at 10 centimetres across., Photo by STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY