Outdoor-cockroach
Guides
Blattella vaga
Field Cockroach
Blattella vaga, the field cockroach, is a small outdoor-dwelling cockroach in the family Ectobiidae. First described from Arizona and California in 1935, it has since been recorded across North America and introduced to parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. It resembles the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) but is not a significant indoor pest, typically entering buildings only during hot or dry conditions. The species harbors bacterial gut symbionts with demonstrated antimicrobial properties.
Shelfordella
Turkestan cockroach, red runner cockroach, rusty red cockroach
Shelfordella is a genus of cockroaches in the family Blattidae, with Shelfordella lateralis being the most widely documented species. The genus is native to regions from northern Africa through Central Asia. S. lateralis has become an established invasive species in North America since 1978, particularly in California and Texas, where it has displaced the oriental cockroach in many areas. The species is primarily outdoor-dwelling but occasionally enters structures through sewers and drains.
Shelfordella lateralis
Turkestan cockroach, red runner cockroach, rusty red cockroach
Shelfordella lateralis, commonly known as the Turkestan cockroach, is an invasive cockroach species native to Central Asia that has established populations in the southwestern United States, Europe, and other regions. It is primarily an outdoor species that inhabits water meter boxes, concrete cracks, compost piles, leaf litter, and sewer systems. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism: males are winged and capable of flight, while females have reduced wings. S. lateralis is displacing the oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) in many areas of California and the southwestern U.S. due to faster maturation and higher reproductive output. It has become a significant urban pest in some regions and carries antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, raising public health concerns.