Blaberus discoidalis

Discoid cockroach
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Blaberus
Species:
B. discoidalis
Binomial name
Blaberus discoidalis
Synonyms
  • Blabera rufescens Saussure & Zhentner, 1894[1]
  • Blabera subspurcata Walker, F, 1868
  • Blabera varians Serville, 1838
  • Blabera cubensis Saussure, 1864
  • Blabera discoidalis Serville, 1838

Blaberus discoidalis, commonly known as the discoid cockroach,[2] tropical cockroach,[3] West Indian leaf cockroach,[3] false death's head cockroach,[4][5] Haitian cockroach,[6] and drummer,[7] is a cockroach native to Central America of the "giant cockroach" family, Blaberidae.[6][8]

The adult is around 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in) in length, and is tan with a dark brown to black patch on its pronotum.[6] The juvenile is brown with tan speckles, and matures to adulthood in 4–5 months.[6] Adults have wings but are not active fliers,[6] and they can not climb smooth vertical surfaces, simplifying their care in captivity.

Blaberus discoidalis is called the false death's head cockroach because of its superficial resemblance to the death's head cockroach, Blaberus craniifer.

  1. ^ "Synonyms of Tropical Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis)". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  2. ^ Clopton, Richard E. (2011). "Redescription of Protomagalhaensia granulosae Peregrine, 1970 (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Blabericolidae) Parasitizing the Discoid Cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae)" (PDF). Comparative Parasitology. 78 (1): 63–72. doi:10.1654/4475.1. ISSN 1525-2647. S2CID 30474034.
  3. ^ a b "Common Names for Tropical Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis)". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  4. ^ Marshall, Samuel D. (2001). Tarantulas and Other Arachnids: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Behavior, and Housing. Barron's Educational Series. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7641-1463-2.
  5. ^ "Biofuel cell generates electricity when implanted in false deaths head cockroach (Press release)". ACS News Service. American Chemical Society. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e Stockton, Donna. "Husbandry Data Sheet: Haitian cockroaches, Blaberus discoidalis" (PDF). TITAG Husbandry Information. Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference speciesfile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Blaberus discoidalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 27 December 2013.