Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Genus Panchlora

Green Banana Cockroach (Panchlora nivea) - Panchlora nivea Green Banana Cockroach? Top View - Panchlora nivea Green Banana Cockroach? Top/Side View - Panchlora nivea Panchlora nivea Panchlora nivea Initial ID - It's GREEN - Panchlora nivea BG2101 E0723 - Panchlora nivea Panchlora nivea
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
Family Blaberidae
Genus Panchlora
Explanation of Names
PANCHLORA: from the Greek "pan; pantos" (all) + "chloros" (green); a good descriptive name because P. nivea looks all-green from a distance [a thin yellow margin can be seen at close range]
Numbers
1 species in North America [P. nivea] (nearctica.com)
Size
usually 20-25 mm; rarely up to 50 mm
Identification
adult is bright light green with thin yellow margin on pronotum and anterior half of elytra; face white; top of head dark brown
nymph is brown or black
Range
along gulf coast from Florida to Texas; most common in Florida
Habitat
trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, piles of leaves, mulch, lumber piles, firewood piles; rarely found indoors and not normally considered a pest
Remarks
acitve at night and may be attracted to artificial light; does not breed indoors
popular as a pet due to its bright green color
Internet References
live adult image of P. nivea [courtesy Jim Castner, U. of Floridae] plus other info (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
live adult images of P. nivea (lucihormetica.de, Germany)