Trinidad Wood Cockroach

Blaberus spp.

Fascinating Facts

• Many cockroaches today look almost identical to species that existed alongside the dinosaurs.

Physical Characteristics

This cockroach is glossy to the touch, with jet black wings covering the abdomen and a skull shaped, amber/black coloured marking on the pronotum (top of it’s head). They are particularly large cockroaches with adults reaching 3 inches or more. Male and female roaches look very similar, females are slightly larger with a rounded abdomen.

Habitat/Diet

The Trinidad wood cockroach is from Central and South America and live mostly in tropical and subtropical forests. They live on decaying plant material.

Social Behavior

They do give off a mild odour if significantly frightened. Although adults have wings they do not fly.

Status In The Wild

Trinidad wood cockroach are not endangered.

Other

Trinidad wood cockroach can be found in the Insect Zoo.