Blattella nipponica — identification & habitat

Blattella nipponica is an outdoor East Asian cockroach recorded in Korea and Japan. It closely resembles the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), but its adults can fly and the two dark stripes behind the head draw together toward the rear.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults are about 0.43–0.59 in (11–15 mm) long and yellowish brown. Two dark stripes behind the head are broad and tend to approach each other toward the rear.

Look-alikes

German cockroachBlattella germanica

This species has broader dark stripes behind the head that converge toward the rear, and its adults can fly. The German cockroach usually has more parallel stripes and rarely flies; a blurry photo may not be enough for a firm identification.

Why they get mixed upBoth are small, yellowish-brown cockroaches with two dark stripes behind the head.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: forest-floor leaf litter
grassy field edges
ground under stones
Range: It has been recorded in Korea and Japan.
Preferred conditions: It lives outdoors among dead leaves, decaying plant matter, and other sheltered material on the ground.

Behavior

Diet: In Japanese forests, adults have been observed eating the fleshy fruit of a forest-floor plant.
Activity: Adults can fly, unlike German cockroaches, which generally do not fly.

Name and classification

About the name: It was once mistakenly identified as Blattella bisignata.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

11 sources