Similar but smaller than its sister species. Widespread in many drier forest, shrub and tussock habitats of the North Island and east coast of the South Island to just south of Kaikoura. It is primarily a canopy species in both podocarp and Nothofagus forests. It almost matches the distribution of the native black cockroach - Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae, and that of Parellipsidion conjunctum on the eastern side of the south Island in the vicinity of Kaikoura.