Blaberus atropos
(Stoll, 1813)
Death's-head cockroach
Blaberus atropos is a large, winged in the Blaberidae, native to South America. It is closely related to the more commonly kept Blaberus giganteus and shares the "death's-head cockroach" with several due to the distinctive skull-like pattern on its pronotum. The is occasionally kept in captivity for educational purposes and is part of the "petting zoo" collections at some entomology museums.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Blaberus atropos: /ˈblæbərəs ˈætrəpɒs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Native to South America. Documented occurrences include Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and multiple Brazilian states (Amazonas, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, São Paulo).
Human Relevance
Occasionally kept in captivity for educational and outreach purposes, similar to its Blaberus giganteus. Not commonly encountered in the pet trade compared to other Blaberus .
Similar Taxa
- Blaberus giganteusLarger size and more commonly kept in captivity; both share the "death's-head cockroach" and similar pronotal patterning
- Blaberus craniiferAlso called "death's-head cockroach"; distinguished by specific pronotal marking details and geographic distribution
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Hissers: Big, Bold and Beautiful | Bug Squad
- UC Davis Picnic Day: Let's Go on an Insect Scavenger Hunt! | Bug Squad
- When Bruce Hammock's Cockroaches Achieved Stardom | Bug Squad
- A Birthday Visit to the Bohart | Bug Squad
- Meloidae Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
- Insect Migration (Part 1) - Buglife Blog - Buglife