Death's head cockroach | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Blattodea |
Family: | Blaberidae |
Genus: | Blaberus |
Species: | B. craniifer
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Binomial name | |
Blaberus craniifer Burmeister, 1838
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The death's head cockroach (Blaberus craniifer) is a species of cockroach belonging to the family Blaberidae. It is often confused with the discoid cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis, due to its similar appearance. It is distinguished by jet black cloak-like marking on its wings and a skull-shaped, amber/black marking on its pronotum. The name death's head comes from the markings on the top of the pronotum: "cranii", which is Latin for "of the head", and "fer", meaning "carry" or "carrier".[1] Due to their unique appearance and certain characteristics, they make an easy to care for pet or display insect for entomologists and hobbyists.