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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Cockroaches and Termites (Blattodea) » Blattoidea » Blattidae

Family Blattidae

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Works Cited
American Cockroach - Periplaneta americana Periplaneta fuliginosa nymphs? - Periplaneta fuliginosa Smoky Brown Cockroach - Periplaneta fuliginosa Small roach pair seen an night, parcoblatta? - Eurycotis floridana Cockroach - Blatta orientalis - male Cockroach - Periplaneta americana Roach - Periplaneta americana Black Roach - Blatta orientalis
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
Superfamily Blattoidea
Family Blattidae
Numbers
9 spp. (all adventive, except Eurycotis floridana) in 5 genera of 2 subfamilies in our area, ~600 spp. in ~40 genera of 4 subfamilies worldwide(1)
Identification
Adults with wings that cover the abdomen: Blatta lateralis males and Periplaneta, males and females of all four species:
Turkestan Cockroach (Shelfordella lateralis) males


American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)


Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)


Smoky Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)


Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta brunnea)
Similar in appearance to American Cockroach


Adults with wings covering ~75% of the abdomen:
Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) males


Vestigial wings:
Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) females - wingpads do not touch in the middle and do not have a pale, lateral stripe:


Turkestan Cockroach (Shelfordella lateralis) females- wingpads do not touch in the middle and have a pale, lateral stripe:


Florida Woods Cockroach (Eurycotis floridana) males and females- wingpads do touch each other in the middle of the back:


Additional species reported from the US
Eurycotis lixa is apparently established in the Florida keys and was originally described as an adventive arriving in New York. Wings do not touch in the middle and do not have a pale stripe, making it look very much like Blatta orientalis females.


The Harlequin Cockroach (Neostylopyga rhombifolia) is an ornate species that would not easily be confused with the other members of this family found in the US. In addition to wild populations in southwestern states, cockroach enthusiasts also keep them as pets.
Range
In general the species found in the US from this family are in areas that are warm and humid, such as the Gulf South. In addition, sewers and steam tunnels provide ideal habitats for some species that have established populations in other areas.
Food
Has a symbiotic relationship with Blattabacterium, a flavobacteria, that assist in providing the insect with sufficient amino acids.(2)
Works Cited
1.Beccaloni G.W. (2007-) Cockroach species file online. Version 5.0
2.The Insects : Structure and Function
R. F. Chapman. 1998. Cambridge University Press.
Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 15 September, 2005 - 12:43pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, David Ferguson, v belov, John Carlson, Marci Hess, Hisserdude
Last updated 24 September, 2023 - 9:54am

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