Arizona wood cockroach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parcoblatta notha |
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Ectobiidae
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| Genus: |
Parcoblatta
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| Species: |
P. notha
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| Parcoblatta notha (Rehn J. A. G. & Hebard, 1910)
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Parcoblatta notha, also known as the Arizona wood cockroach, is a type of cockroach. It lives only in the southwestern US state of Arizona. This cockroach is a fairly large and light-colored member of the Parcoblatta family. This family includes 12 different kinds of wood cockroaches.
Male Arizona wood cockroaches have full wings and can fly. Female Arizona wood cockroaches have wings that are about half as long. Because of their shorter wings, the females cannot fly.
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What Does It Look Like?
Male Arizona Wood Cockroach
Male Parcoblatta notha cockroaches are usually thin. They have a body part called a pronotum (the shield-like cover over their head and chest) that is quite long. Their wings, called tegmina, are fully grown. These wings allow them to fly.
The male cockroaches are a light yellowish-tan color. Their eyes, called ocelli, are cream-colored. The middle part of their pronotum and the hair tufts on their belly are darker, from tan to brown. The edges of their pronotum and their wings are see-through.
Female Arizona Wood Cockroach
Female Parcoblatta notha cockroaches have complete wings and tegmina. However, their tegmina stop before the end of their body. This means their wings are not strong enough for them to fly for long periods. The female's pronotum is bigger and wider than the male's.
Female Arizona wood cockroaches are usually an auburn (reddish-brown) color. The only other light-colored species in this group where the female has full wings is P. caudelli. However, P. caudelli is smaller and its females can fly.
Size of the Arizona Wood Cockroach
In 1917, a scientist named Morgan Hebard measured some of these cockroaches. Here are the average sizes he found:
| Male | Female | |
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| Body length | 14.5 to 18.0 millimeters (about 0.57 to 0.71 inches) | 14.0 to 14.7 millimeters (about 0.55 to 0.58 inches) |
| Pronotum length | 3.8 to 4.3 millimeters (about 0.15 to 0.17 inches) | 4.4 to 4.6 millimeters (about 0.17 to 0.18 inches) |
| Pronotum width | 4.8 to 5.3 millimeters (about 0.19 to 0.21 inches) | 5.7 to 5.9 millimeters (about 0.22 to 0.23 inches) |
| Tegmina length | 16.7 to 18.6 millimeters (about 0.66 to 0.73 inches) | 9.4 to 10.2 millimeters (about 0.37 to 0.40 inches) |
| Tegmina width | 4.8 to 5.6 millimeters (about 0.19 to 0.22 inches) | 4.0 to 4.1 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.16 inches) |
Where Do They Live?
The Arizona wood cockroach is found only in the southwestern US state of Arizona. They have been seen in many places there. These include the city of Prescott and towns like Reef and Palmerlee in Cochise County. They also live near Kitt Peak, the Galiuro Mountain Range, the Huachuca Mountains, and the Patagonia Mountains. You can also find them in Sabino Basin and the Santa Rita Mountains.
Scientists believe they might also be found in northern Mexico.
Their Home Environment
These cockroaches often live under the bark of trees. Sometimes, they can be found in houses that are close to wooded areas. They are sometimes reported as a minor bother in homes.
