Flat Orange and Black bug
January 9, 2010
I saw this starnge looking bug in rotten tree stumps in Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa in December. The photo is the posterior, unfortunately I did not get to see the head end. Any idea what it is?
Thanks, Jon Cooper
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Mountain Cockroaches
Dear Jon,
Though the photo does not provide the best angle for identification purposes, we thought this must be a species of Cockroach. When we did a web search of “Cockroach South Africa”, we found a biodiversity page on life in Southern Africa with an image of the Cape Mountain Cockroach, Aptera fusca which states: “The Cape Mountain Cockroach has an interesting biology in that the eggs mature and hatch inside the female so that she ‘gives birth’ to young. In this species the male is winged and the female wingless (hence the generic name meaning ‘without wings’).“ We found some photos online, and some dialog on pet blogs, but the only source of information on the Cape Mountain Cockroach we could quickly uncover was on Wikipedia which states: “The Cape mountain cockroach, Aptera fusca is a giant cockroach which lives in the fynbos biome of the Western Cape region of South Africa. Adult females can be from 30 to 40 mm long. Males are slightly smaller, and have wings, which are absent in females. Unusually for insects, it gives birth to 18-24 live offspring and protects the young for a while after giving birth. When alarmed, it raises its abdomen into the air and squeaks loudly“.
Thanks for that Daniel,
I thought it was a cockroach at the time but my googling was not as successful as yours. Have looked at pictures on internet and I think you’ve got it right.
Thanks again,
Jon cooper
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Posted 10 January 2010
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Can you please tell me what this is?
December 20, 2009
I just moved into a new place with my three year old son. In the last 2 days, we have found three of these critters in the house. We found one in the pantry, one on the wall in the hallway, and one in the shower. I’m worried that it may be a cockroach or something, but I’m not sure. Any information you can offer would be very much appreciated.
Concerned in Florida
Saint Augustine, FL
German Cockroach
Dear Concerned in Florida,
The two parallel dark streaks on the pronotum identify this as a German Cockroach, Blattella germanica, one of the most reviled insects that infest dwellings. Eliminating them from an infested home might be a losing battle.
German Cockroach
Thank you very much. That confirms my suspicion, and makes the decision for me….I will be moving. I greatly appreciate your time.
Is this bug a cochroach?
November 6, 2009
Hi. I live in Westfield, NJ and over the passed month we’ve been finding these little bugs that move pretty fast around the house. Usually in the living room or kitchen. We’re not sure if they are cochroaches or not but we’ve laid a couple of bait traps around the house. So far we’ve spoted/killed around 8 this month.
What do you think? Thanks!
Michael
Union County, NJ
Cockroach with Oothica
Hi Michael,
Your photo shows a female Cockroach with her oothica or egg case. She is lacking the two parallel longitudinal dark streaks on the pronotum that identify a German Cockroach, so we are uncertain what species of Cockroach you have. Your letter indicates that you have a species that infests homes, and the German Cockroach would be a likely candidate except for the markings. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to identify the species of Cockroach for you.
Suggestion from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
Wow, I have no idea. I’d suggest contacting Dr. (?) Betty Faber at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. She knows roaches very well and will surely recognize this one. I’ll be interested to know myself!
Eric
what is this insect?
October 17, 2009
In late summer 2006, I started noticing some kind of unidentified roach-like bug in the garden & around the house.
Observed in daylight, doesn’t run to avoid light. Body is ~6 mm long, semi-translucent, with darker brown stripes lengthwise down the back side of body, and one central brown stripe. Feelers approx as long as body, 2 mandible-type extensions near base of feelers, 6 legs, rearmost legs longest, with hairy extensions on them, two spikey extensions at rear end. Body is segmented, no obvious wings. A captured one was observed to have a very large object attached to it, which it eventually shed after about a day (at right). Is this some kind of egg case?
(see attached jpg images)
Thank you, JD
Petaluma, California
Cockroach
Hi JD,
This is a species of Cockroach, and we believe it is Phyllodromica trivittata, a Mediterranean import that BugGuide reports from California. BugGuide has this comment: “Known from dry habitats around the Mediterranean. It has been recorded from Morocco; Algeria; Spain; Italy (Sardinia Island); Italy (Sicily); Libya; and Israel. Given that it has not been recorded as being a pest in buildings in those countries (as far as I’m aware) it is unlikely to invade buildings in the USA. Comment by George Beccaloni (The Natural History Museum, London, UK).“ In many species of Cockroaches, the female carries the oothica, or egg case, and your description and photograph support this, though that photo is a bit blurry and we will not be posting it. The Cockroach Forum has some nice images.
Cockroach
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Posted 17 October 2009
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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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Posted 03 October 2009
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flying beetle
September 20, 2009
what is this bug
wm in arizona
mesa, az
Surinam Cockroach
Hi wm in arizona,
This is a Cockroach, and we believe it is the Surinam Cockroach, Pycnoscelus surinamensis, even though BugGuide does not report the species from Arizona. It is reported in Texas and Florida as well as other southern states. According to BugGuide, the Surinam Cockroach: “Reproduces through parthenogenesis in the US, where no males are found. It has two sexes in some parts of the world (Europe and Indo-Malaysia), though. Unlike many roaches, the egg capsule is retained inside the female’s abdomen until young are ready to emerge. Usually described as giving birth to live young, however Modern Pest Services site below seems to show that the egg capsule is ejected from the female.“
Surinam Cockroach
“Stitch”-like bug, cockroach nymph?
September 10, 2009
Hi Bugman-
First I have to say that the buzz my weevil picture generated is pretty cool. Costa Rica really has some amazing bugs!
I’ve been searching like crazy since my Costa Rican honeymoon for the identification of this prehistoric/alien looking bug. As far as I can tell, it’s a cockroach nymph of some sort. With three months of searching, I’ve found nothing.
We found him in our hotel room, the same night I saw the green glitter and wood carved weevil. He was crawling across the floor minding his own business. His antennae were rather odd in that they had a white section from which protruded an extension. It looked as though he was using one antennae to “smell” the air and the other to feel the ground. I picked him up with some paper to place him on the patio, and he was super fast…and stubborn. He got in one more time…and then stayed out…I think. His markings are beautiful, and if I could have kept him as a pet I would have. Do you have any idea what he might be? If he is a cockroach, I hope his grown up version is as pretty as the nymph version.
bug fan (djrianna)
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Cockroach Nymph from Costa Rica
Dear bug fan,
We agree that this is an immature Cockroach, but we would add that it is one of the most attractive Cockroaches we have ever seen. We will post your photo and try to research the species at a later date, but perhaps a reader will write in with an identification.
Assistance from Karl
September 16, 2009
Hi Daniel:
This really is a handsome cockroach. I believe it is in the Family Blattellidae; Subfamily Nyctiborinae. Based on the shape of the antennae (thickened at the base and bristle-like at the tip) I would further suggest that it is in the Genus Nyctibora, of which there are at least three species in Costa Rica. I had little luck finding any useful descriptions or illustrations of the Costa Rican species, but it looks very similar to a Nyctibora nymph from Bolivia pictured on the Blattodea Culture Group website. Regards.
Karl
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Posted 10 September 2009
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nocturnal brown flying insect
July 21, 2009
Dear Mr. Bugman,
I hopelessly freaked out by bugs! Just last night, I saw a few of these bugs flying around my backyard. When they land they scurry around quickly like cockroaches but then take flight. The one photographed drowned in my waterfountain (oopsie). Can you please tell me what it is?
Buggin’ out
Fontana, CA (So. Cal)
American Cockroach
Dear Buggin’ out,
These are American Cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, which is something of a misnomer since according to BugGuide: “They are significant pests throughout the world. They are not native to the Americas at all. They come from tropical Africa. They were probably transported to the Americas on slave ships.” BugGuide also has this to report: “Adults have wings and will occasionally fly. However, they are awkward fliers and prefer to run when disturbed. Males and females are about the same size and look very similar. Both have a pair of cerci, finger-like appendages, at the tips of their abdomens. The cerci are used to detect air currents in the cockroach’s surroundings. Male cockroaches have an additional set of appendages called styli on their abdomens. The styli are located between the cerci but are smaller and more delicate. The presence of styli is the easiest way to distinguish male from female cockroaches. Immature American cockroaches resemble adults, except they are wingless. The American cockroach egg capsules are mahogany brown and about 1/3 inch long.”
American Cockroach
Unknown bug from Costa Rica
June 4, 2009
This bug was found in a box of bananas from Costa Rica! Any information would be great!
K. Yoder
Pa. from Costa Rica
Green Banana Cockroach
Dear K. Yoder,
This is a Green Banana Cockroach, Panchlora nivea. The species is native to Central America and Cuba, and it has become established in Florida and Texas. According to BugGuide: “acitve at night and may be attracted to artificial light; does not breed indoorspresumably found on bananas in its native Cuba; two early records from Mississippi are considered to be adventive introductions along with shipments of bananaspopular as a pet ($25.00 a doz.) here due to its bright green color and because it is not an invasive indoor species” Since it is not invasive, you need not worry about it becoming established in Pennsylvania where the climate is too harsh for this tropical species.
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Posted 13 July 2009
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Unknown bug from Costa Rica
Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 7:16 AM
This bug was found in a box of bananas from Costa Rica! Any information would be great!
K. Yoder
Pa. from Costa Rica
Cockroach from Costa Rica
Dear K.,
This is a Green Cockroach, but we are not certain of the species. Not all Cockroaches are invasive pests in the home. Most species of Cockroaches are benign creatures that would much rather live outdoors than inside a house. These tropical green Cockroaches are not invasive. We are preparing you letter and image to post live to our site next Thursday at noon. We want our site to updated daily in our absence and pre-programming is a wonderful way to allow for us to take a real holiday yet keep the site current. Sadly, we will not be answering any new mail until our return next weekend.
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Posted 11 June 2009
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Bug from Australia
Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Never seen this before, found in front yard of my house on a Elm tree leaf, the photo doesnt do it justice it looks much more buetiful in real life thats why i ran into my house to grab the camera and it moves around so swiftly, we are in the middle of summer january 18
bkorpar
Melbourne Doncaster
Beautiful Cockroach
Dear bkorpar,
According to the Insects of Brisbane website, this is a Beautiful Cockroach or Austral Ellipsidion, Ellipsidion australe. According to the site: “This Cockroach is active at day time, running freely on the leaves and flowers. Most other cockroaches are scavengers, they feed on almost everything. We are not exactly sure what this Austral Ellipsidion Cockroach feed on, but they are always found on plants, seldom on the ground. They are believed feed on pollen, honeydew and mould fungus.”
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Posted 18 January 2009
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Xmas present included a @&*#$ bug!
Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 8:11 AM
I got a box for Xmas and did find this bug inside (dead). The box came from a US warehouse which got it from China. So the Question we are all asking to you: is the Cockroach from China or the US? We need an answer if possible as we have a bet situation here. The bug was flushed and I cannot give you more images sorry. More Info: the bug routed from China near HK then Illinois then Minnesota then to Ohio. Thanks.
Donation is the way to an answer!
China or North American Bug
Oriental Cockroach
Dear Donater
A donation is not truly the way to an answer. That is more the luck of the draw when it comes to us opening emails, which happens at random or because a subject line catches our attention. In your case, it was our vivid imagination regarding the implied foul language of your heading. Sadly, we don’t know if your cockroach originated in China or the U.S., but we are fairly certain it is the Oriental Cockroach, Blatta orientalis, sometimes called a Water Bug. The reason we are uncertain where your specimen originated is due in part to the misty origin of the species. According to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) website: “The origin of the oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis Linnaeus, is uncertain, but it is thought to be from Africa or south Russia. It is a major household pest in parts of the northwest, mid-west, and southern United States.” Since the species now has such a wide distribution, it is impossible to surmise where your specimen crawled into the box.
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Posted 15 January 2009
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