Periplaneta lateralis

Turkestan Cockroach

Introduction:

Adult males are a brownish orange or red, are slender, and have long, yellowish wings which allow it to attract females and to glide. Adult females are dark brown to black, with cream-colored markings on the shield and a cream-colored stripe edging its wings; they are broader than males, and have short vestigial wings. Nymphs are brown in front, black on the rear, and are wingless.
Life Cycle:

Size 1.2 inch (3 cm)
Sexual Dimorphism: true
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

Insect Data

Names and Taxonomy

Common Names: Turkestan cockroach, rusty red cockroach, red runner cockroach, rusty red, red runner, or lat
Synonyms: Shelfordella lateralis, Blatta lateralis
Order: Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
Family: Blattidae (Cockroaches)
Genus Information: nk species in NV, 3 in CA, 47 in US, none are native

Distribution

Distribution: The species is native to central Asia, the Caucasus Mountains, and northeastern Africa. It is introduced worldwide. First in US 1978.
Seen: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
Habitat: primarily an outdoor insect. In Arabia, it lives beneath stones in damp hollows, desert farms, and wadis, feeding primarily at night.
Food: fruits, vegetables, grains, and food scraps, and requires hydration from moist food sources

Photographs

Turkestan Cockroach (Periplaneta lateralis)

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Turkestan Cockroach (Periplaneta lateralis)

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Vocabulary Reference Material

Plants, leaf and flower anatomy is essential to properly classify

Sky Island vegetation biomes

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Get in touch

I am usually out hiking, birding or traveling but you can reach me at:

buzardweb@gmail.com