Plectoptera picta

This record describes Plectoptera picta (species). Recorded family: Ectobiidae. Recorded order: Blattodea.

Identification and Appearance

Plectoptera picta - Plectoptera picta — Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by cotinis , v belov , metrioptera , Hisserdude

The tegmina barely overlap, presenting more the appearance of beetle elytra than dictyopteroid tegmina. The resemblance is so close that the collector (a coleopterist) of the most recently collected specimen presumed that he had collected a small hydrophilid beetle. (Nickle & Gurney 1985)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)
Superfamily: Blaberoidea
Family: Ectobiidae
Subfamily: Pseudophyllodromiinae
Genus: Plectoptera

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

se.US (VA‒FL‒TX) to Central America

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Plectoptera picta Saussure & Zehntner 1893

About Cockroaches and Termites: the wider group

Order-level background for Blattodea, the group containing Plectoptera picta. 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.

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