Death's Head Cockroach
Blaberus craniifer
This record describes Blaberus craniifer (species). Recorded family: Blaberidae. Recorded order: Blattodea.
Identification and Appearance
The largest cockroach in North America. Adult: Very large. Tegmina black, occasionally with brown markings near the center. Pronotum spot with distinctive death's head face. Nymph: Difficult to distinguish from other Blaberus when young. Overall color a pale brown with multiple yellow-ish spots on the abdomen and thorax.
Wikipedia reference for Blaberus craniifer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death's_head_cockroach.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
- Superfamily
- Blaberoidea
- Family
- Blaberidae (Ovoviviparous Cockroaches)
- Genus
- Blaberus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Omnivorous.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "Cranii", Latin for "of the head", and "fer", meaning "carry" or "carrier".
About Cockroaches and Termites: the wider group
Order-level background for Blattodea, the group containing Blaberus craniifer. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Blattodea includes ~4,600 cockroach species and ~3,000 termite species. Only about 30 cockroach species are associated with human habitats - less than 1% of all species.
Ecological role of the group
Termites contribute ~40% of soil arthropod biomass globally, far exceeding ants at ~10%. Cockroaches are ancient insects dating back 320 million years and are critical decomposers in tropical forest ecosystems, recycling leaf litter and dead wood.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Termites cause $5-30 billion in damage to structures in the U.S. annually. They damage approximately 600,000 American homes each year, with average repair costs of $3,000-$17,000. A subterranean termite colony can consume one pound of wood per day.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, Orkin, Today's Homeowner, PNAS soil biomass study. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Death's Head Cockroach (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyle Kandilian
Frequently Asked Questions About Death's Head Cockroach
What is Death's Head Cockroach?
Death's Head Cockroach (Blaberus craniifer) is a species in the family Blaberidae, within the order Blattodea.
How big is Death's Head Cockroach?
7+ cm
How do you identify Death's Head Cockroach?
The largest cockroach in North America. Adult: Very large. Tegmina black, occasionally with brown markings near the center. Pronotum spot with distinctive death's head face. Nymph: Difficult to distinguish from other Blaberus when young. Overall color a pale brown with multiple yellow-ish spots on the abdomen and thorax.
Where is Death's Head Cockroach found?
Range: Florida.
What does Death's Head Cockroach eat?
The diet of the Death's Head Cockroach includes Omnivorous..