Periplaneta americana

Blattodea
Blattidae  : Blattinae


The cockroach that most people have seen, at least in biology classes at school. Cultures are maintained by many schools and Universities and it is established in low numbers in the wild around Auckland and in the Waikato/western Bay of Plenty. It turns up occasionally in many other parts of New Zealand but apparently is unable to establish outdours in those cooler places. There are reports of it being in some heated buildings in both Wellington and Christchurch.



Text updated: 13/04/2014