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

Family Blattidae

Cockroach - Periplaneta australasiae Periplaneta americana?  - Periplaneta australasiae Help ID - Periplaneta australasiae Another Australian ? - Periplaneta australasiae Aquarium Guest - Periplaneta australasiae Shelfordella lateralis Roach - Periplaneta americana Smoky Brown Cockroach Nymph - Lateral - Periplaneta fuliginosa
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. (2007‒2023) Cockroach species file
2.The Insects : Structure and Function
R. F. Chapman. 1998. Cambridge University Press.