Periplaneta americana
(Linnaeus, 1758)
American or Ship Cockroach
Taxonomy:
Dictyoptera>>Blattodea>>Blattidae
Status: British Isles non-native species.
Description: Large and fully winged. When threatened, it can produce a foul-smelling secretion from glands in its abdomen.
Wings: Both sexes are fully winged and fly well in warm conditions.
Food: Omnivorous, feeding on refuse and anything edible that is not too dry and hard.
Habitat: Despite its name, the species is native to Africa. It may have been introduced to Europe with sugarcane from Cuba. In Britain it occurs on ships, in warehouses and glasshouses, especially around sea ports. Rarely in residential houses.
Phenology: Indoors adults may be seen all year round.
Distribution: The records held by the National Biodiversity Network are shown in the map below.
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Only the following datasets are included:
- Biological Records Centre - Grasshopper and Cricket (Orthoptera) and related species records from Britain and Ireland to 2007
Other datasets on the gateway may hold additional information.