Forest Cockroach
Ectobius sylvestris
This record describes Ectobius sylvestris (species). Recorded family: Ectobiidae. Recorded order: Blattodea.
Identification and Appearance
Ectobius sylvestris, known generally as the forest cockroach or lesser cockroach, is a species of cockroach in the family Ectobiidae. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.
Wikipedia reference for Ectobius sylvestris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectobius_sylvestris.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
- Superfamily
- Blaberoidea
- Family
- Ectobiidae (Wood Cockroaches)
- Subfamily
- Ectobiinae
- Genus
- Ectobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Cockroaches and Termites: the wider group
Order-level background for Blattodea, the group containing Ectobius sylvestris. 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 Forest Cockroach (6)
Photo credits: (c) gernotkunz, all rights reserved, uploaded by gernotkunz | (c) Martin Grimm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) | (c) Brandon Woo, all rights reserved, uploaded by Brandon Woo | (c) Til Mann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Til Mann