Biogeographic-reintroduction
Guides
Ectobius sylvestris
forest cockroach, lesser cockroach
Ectobius sylvestris, commonly known as the forest cockroach or lesser cockroach, is a small cockroach species in the family Ectobiidae. It is native to Europe and northern Asia, and has been introduced to North America. The species belongs to a genus with a complex biogeographic history, including ancient fossil records from the Eocene of North America and subsequent reintroduction to the continent after a 49-million-year absence. It is one of two recognized subspecies within E. sylvestris, with the nominate subspecies E. s. sylvestris described by Poda in 1761.