Brown Cockroach
Validiblatta brunnea
This record describes Validiblatta brunnea (species). Recorded family: Blattidae. Recorded order: Blattodea.
Identification and Appearance
dark brown to reddish brown, with pale brown markings on the pronotum; wings cover the tip of the abdomen in both sexes; closely resembles P. americana , distinguished by the short supraanal plate (epiproct) and short, blunt cerci on the adults; oothecae ~2.6 mm longer than in V. australasiae and 5.2 mm longer than in P. americana earliest NA record: IL 1907
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
primarily indoors in colder climate; mainly outdoors (under bark, in sewers) in warm regions
Geographic Range
native to Africa, now circumtropical; carried with food to temperate regions and survives in heated environments in urban areas; in our area, well established from FL to TX, introduced into CA
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Validiblatta brunnea (Burmeister 1838)
About Cockroaches and Termites: the wider group
Order-level background for Blattodea, the group containing Validiblatta brunnea. 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 Brown Cockroach (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Carlson; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Cockroach
What is Brown Cockroach?
Brown Cockroach (Validiblatta brunnea) is a species in the family Blattidae, within the order Blattodea.
How big is Brown Cockroach?
31–37 mm
How do you identify Brown Cockroach?
dark brown to reddish brown, with pale brown markings on the pronotum; wings cover the tip of the abdomen in both sexes; closely resembles P. americana , distinguished by the short supraanal plate (epiproct) and short, blunt cerci on the adults; oothecae ~2.6 mm longer than in V. australasiae and 5.2 mm longer than in P. americana
Where is Brown Cockroach found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | primarily indoors in colder climate; mainly outdoors (under bark, in sewers) in warm regions |
| Range | native to Africa, now circumtropical; carried with food to temperate regions and survives in heated environments in urban areas; in our area, well established from FL to TX, introduced into CA |