Australian Cockroach
Scientific Name: Periplaneta australasiae
Size: Total Length 35mm
What does it look like?
The Australian Cockroach is brown, with a yellow border around the pronotum and longitudinal yellow stripes on the outer edges of the wings. Very similar to the larger American Cockroach.
Where is it found?
Introduced and now widespread in tropical and subtropical areas of Australia, in close proximity to human habitation.
What are its habitats & habits?
The Australian Cockroach inhabits urban areas, where it is common in gardens and outside areas, but will enter houses to find food, and is a competent flier. A pest species of households and similar dwellings, where it feeds on a variety of vegetable matter, but will also scavenge on other organic matter, and is known to spread disease-causing bacteria.
This species features in my book A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Australia
