Florida woods cockroach

Florida woods cockroach
Cockroach in sandy grass
Adult
Four cockroach nymphs inside a broken log
Nymphs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Eurycotis
Species:
E. floridana
Binomial name
Eurycotis floridana
(Walker, 1868)
Synonyms
  • Periplaneta floridana Walker, 1868[1]
  • Periplaneta semipicta Walker, 1868[1]
  • Platyzosteria ingens Scudder, 1877[1]
  • Platyzosteria sabaliana Scudder, 1877[1]

The Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana) is a large cockroach species which typically grows to a length of 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in).[2] When alarmed, adults can eject an extremely foul-smelling directional spray up to 1 m,[3] which inspired several of its other common names: Florida skunk roach, Florida stinkroach, skunk cockroach, skunk roach, stinking cockroach, and stinkroach.[1] Two other naming variations include Florida cockroach and Florida woods roach.[1]

The Florida woods cockroach is slower moving than many other cockroach species. It prefers damp locations with abundant moisture, and does well in warm, damp climates. It is found in its native habitats, such as the U.S. state of Florida and the West Indies. The species wanders indoors at times, especially into damp locations, such as bathrooms; however, it prefers the outdoors and is not considered a major pest in the home. It is cold intolerant and requires a warm, subtropical or tropical climate. It can be found in sheltered outdoor locations, such as under leaf litter, in tree holes, and under lumber and boards, and other crevices, as well as in bushes and wooded areas. Often it can be seen on palmetto trees, which gave it one of its early popular names, the palmetto bug.[4] It is not to be confused for the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), another common Florida insect, that is sometimes also referred to as a palmetto bug.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference eol-synonym was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference robinson2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference bibbs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Palmetto Bug". Wild Florida. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference poertner1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference common2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).