Blaberidae
Guides
Blaberus craniifer
Death's Head Cockroach, Death's-head Cockroach
Blaberus craniifer is a large cockroach species distinguished by the distinctive jack-o'-lantern marking on its pronotum. It exhibits complex sexual behavior including male-produced substrate vibrations and sex pheromones for long-distance female attraction, followed by stereotyped courtship rituals and post-copulatory mate guarding. Unlike the closely related Periplaneta americana, this species shows reduced wind-mediated escape responses and prefers digging behaviors when disturbed. It serves as a host for specific gregarine and nematode parasites that occupy different gut regions without significantly affecting host growth, indicating long co-evolutionary adaptation. The species is valued in entomological collections and hobbyist rearing due to its striking appearance and minimal care requirements.
Blaberus discoidalis
discoid cockroach, tropical cockroach, West Indian leaf cockroach, false death's head cockroach, Haitian cockroach, drummer
Blaberus discoidalis is a large cockroach in the family Blaberidae, native to Central America and the Caribbean. Adults measure 35–45 mm and are tan with a distinctive dark brown to black pronotal patch that resembles the death's head marking of Blaberus craniifer, hence the common name "false death's head cockroach." The species is gregarious and has been extensively studied in laboratory settings for its locomotion, sensory processing, and social behavior. It is widely used as feeder insects for captive reptiles and amphibians due to its ease of rearing and nutritional profile.
Epilampra
Epilampra is a genus of cockroaches in the family Blaberidae, first described by Burmeister in 1838. The genus contains more than 70 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Epilampra species are classified within the subfamily Epilamprinae and tribe Epilamprini. These cockroaches are part of the diverse Blaberidae family, which includes many of the larger cockroach species.
Hemiblabera tenebricosa
Broad Keys Cockroach
Hemiblabera tenebricosa is a species of cockroach in the family Blaberidae, commonly known as the Broad Keys Cockroach. It occurs in the Caribbean region and southeastern United States, with documented records from Florida, the Bahamas, and Haiti. As a member of Blaberidae, it belongs to a family of primarily tropical and subtropical cockroaches, many of which exhibit ovoviviparous reproduction.