Ectobiidae
Guides
Aglaopteryx gemma
little gem cockroach
Aglaopteryx gemma is a small cockroach species in the family Ectobiidae, commonly known as the little gem cockroach. First described by Hebard in 1917, this species occurs in the southeastern United States and the Bahamas. It belongs to a genus of small, often inconspicuous cockroaches that inhabit leaf litter and ground-level vegetation.
Blattella
Blattella is a genus of small cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae, distributed worldwide. The genus includes both domestic pest species, notably the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), and wild species such as the Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai) and Japanese field roach (Blattella nipponica). Species within this genus exhibit diverse ecological preferences, ranging from human dwellings to outdoor habitats including mountainous regions and field environments.
Chorisoneura parishi
Parish's Thin-nerved Cockroach
Chorisoneura parishi is a small cockroach species in the family Ectobiidae, first described by Rehn in 1918. It is distributed across the Neotropical region, with records from Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Panama. The species belongs to a genus characterized by reduced wing venation patterns. It is one of numerous small, non-pest cockroach species that inhabit tropical forest ecosystems.
Chorisoneura texensis
small Texas cockroach, Small Yellow Texas Cockroach
Chorisoneura texensis is a small cockroach species native to the Southeastern United States. It belongs to the family Ectobiidae, a group often referred to as wood cockroaches or forest cockroaches. The species is commonly encountered in outdoor environments and is not considered a significant household pest. It is distinguished from other regional cockroaches by its small size and coloration.
Ectobius
wood cockroaches, field cockroaches
Ectobius is a genus of small, cool-adapted cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae. Adults measure 6–12 mm in length with brown to yellowish coloration and pale margins. The genus has a complex biogeographic history: fossil evidence from the 49-million-year-old Green River Formation in Colorado indicates Ectobius originated in North America, despite its long absence from the continent until recent reintroductions. Species are primarily distributed across Europe, Africa, the eastern Palearctic, and the Near East. Several species have been introduced to northeastern North America within the last 65 years, where Ectobius lapponicus has become synanthropic.
Ectobius pallidus
Tawny Cockroach
Ectobius pallidus, commonly known as the tawny cockroach, is a non-cosmopolitan species in the family Ectobiidae. Unlike many cockroach species associated with human dwellings, this species is native to western Europe and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America, representing a reintroduction after a 49-million-year absence of the genus from the continent. The species is not considered a significant household pest.
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.
Ischnoptera bilunata
Bilunate Cockroach
Ischnoptera bilunata is a species of cockroach in the family Ectobiidae, first described by Saussure in 1869. It is one of the more frequently observed cockroach species in the Americas, with over 500 documented observations on iNaturalist. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning North and South America, with confirmed records from Brazil, Bolivia, and multiple regions of Argentina.
Latiblattella
Latiblattella is a genus of cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae, established by Hebard in 1917. The genus contains approximately 18 described species distributed across the Americas. Species in this genus have been subjects of behavioral studies, particularly regarding mating behavior.
Luridiblatta
Luridiblatta is a genus of cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae, established by Fernandes in 1965. The genus contains 10 recognized species, including L. trivittata which has been introduced to California and is known there as the "tiny cockroach." Most species exhibit an almost circum-Mediterranean distribution. A 2022 taxonomic revision described 7 new species and organized them into three species-groups based on morphological characteristics.
Luridiblatta trivittata
Three-lined Cockroach, Tiny Cockroach
Luridiblatta trivittata is a small cockroach species native to the Mediterranean region, belonging to the family Ectobiidae. It is one of ten species in the genus Luridiblatta, which has an almost circum-Mediterranean distribution. The species is part of the trivittata species-group along with L. habbachii. It has been introduced to California, where it is recognized as one of eight exotic cockroach species present in the state. Unlike major indoor pest cockroaches, this species is primarily an outdoor inhabitant that occasionally enters buildings but does not normally reproduce indoors.
Pseudomops septentrionalis
pale-bordered field cockroach, firefly roach
Pseudomops septentrionalis is a small field-dwelling cockroach native to North and Central America. It is commonly known as the pale-bordered field cockroach or firefly roach. Unlike many cockroach species associated with human structures, this species inhabits outdoor environments. It has been documented as a host for the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, which may provide nutritional benefits.
Symploce
Symploce is a genus of small cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae, established by Hebard in 1916. The genus contains species distributed across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. One species, Symploce pallens, has been subject to biological study examining its development and reproduction. The mitochondrial genome of a related species, Episymploce splendens, has been sequenced, revealing unusual tRNA deletions.