Unknown Cockroach from Hawaii is Harlequin Cockroach

bugman

October 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 am

Categories

Cockroaches

tasty looking cockroach
October 2, 2009
i have a cockroach that sort of resembles an oriental cockroach, but the pattern on its back differs from an oriental cockroach. it is a bit smaller than 1 1/2 inches. I got this cockroach from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
curious
Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Harlequin Cockroach

Hi curious,
Hawaii is the home of numerous introduced species that are crowding out the endemic wildlife. We are posting your image in the hopes that someone will write in with a species identification. Unless it is a wingless species, it is an immature individual.

Update
October 3, 2009
A special thanks to Karl who identified this Harlequin Cockroach, Neostylopyga rhombifolia, a Southeast Asian species that has become established elsewhere in the world, including Hawaii. For more information read Karl’s comment and check out this website: http://www.gotroaches.com/blog/2006/05/25/harlequin-roach-neostylopyga-rhombifolia/

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Comments 2

rebekah wrote:
whatever kind of cockroach that is, it’s beautiful. the pattern looks almost like tortoise shell.
Posted 03 Oct 2009 at 11:02 am ¶
kkroeker wrote:
This appears to be a Harlequin Cockroach, Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Blattodea: Blattidae). They are native to southeast Asia but have become established in northern Australia, Mexico, Arizona, and they have been reported from Hawaii. They are a flightless, egg-laying cockroach. Regards. K http://www.gotroaches.com/blog/2006/05/25/harlequin-roach-neostylopyga-rhombifolia/
Posted 03 Oct 2009 at 11:14 am ¶