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Cockroaches and Termites of Zihuatanejo

ORDER BLATTODEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Cockroaches and Termites (Order Blattodea)

-Giant and Wood Cockroaches (Superfamily Blaberoidea)

-Giant Cockroaches (Family Blaberidae)

-Subfamily Pycnoscelinae

-Genus Pycnoscelus

-Surinam Cockroach (Pycnoscelus surinamensis)


The Surinam cockroach (Pycnoscelus surinamensis) is a species of burrowing cockroach belonging to the family Blaberidae. Despite its name, this cockroach is not native to Surinam but is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. The coloration is usually dark brown to black on the thorax and light brown or tan on the wings and abdomen. Like many cockroaches, the Surinam cockroach is nocturnal, meaning it is primarily active at night and hides in soil, leaf litter, or under debris during the day.

Surinam Cockroach

Pycnoscelus surinamensis

Diet

  • Pycnoscelus surinamensis is an omnivorous, largely detritivorous cockroach that feeds on decaying plant material, organic debris and a variety of plant tissues.

  • It can also consume living portions of plants, particularly roots, shoots and other softer tissues, and has been associated with damage to ornamental and agricultural plants.

  • In Zihuatanejo, gardens, landscaped areas, compost, leaf litter and decomposing vegetation provide abundant potential food resources.

Range

  • Pycnoscelus surinamensis has a pantropical and circumtropical distribution and is now established in many warm regions outside its presumed Asian origin.

  • It occurs in the Zihuatanejo region, where the warm tropical climate provides favourable conditions for year-round outdoor populations.

  • Around Zihuatanejo it is particularly associated with gardens, cultivated areas and other disturbed habitats, although it can also occur in natural vegetation and leaf litter.

Habitat

  • Pycnoscelus surinamensis is a semi-subterranean cockroach that spends much of its time in soil, leaf litter, mulch and other organic material.

  • It commonly occurs beneath stones, fallen wood, plant debris, flower pots and other objects resting on or close to the ground.

  • In Zihuatanejo, irrigated gardens and landscaped areas can provide especially favourable conditions because they combine warm temperatures, moist soil and abundant plant material.

  • It is predominantly nocturnal, emerging from its shelters after dark to forage.

  • The species can be transported in soil around plant roots and in nursery plants, which has contributed substantially to its broad distribution.

Description

  • Pycnoscelus surinamensis is a medium-sized cockroach, with adults generally reaching about 18–25 mm in length.

  • Adults have a dark brown to nearly black body, contrasting with brown to olive-brown wings.

  • The pronotum is shiny and dark, with a conspicuous pale margin along its leading edge.

  • The wings are fully developed and cover the abdomen, although the species is not an especially strong flier.

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