Brown-banded Cockroach Supella longipalpa

Photo of Brown-banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

(c) Michele Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY)

OrderCockroaches and Termites (Blattodea)
FamilyPseudophyllodromiidae (Pseudophyllodromiidae)
GenusSupella (Supella)

Tiny but unmistakable, the brown-banded cockroach measures just 10-14mm yet is the most famous in its genus. Its two light-colored bands running across the wings and abdomen are its signature lookβ€”though the bands can appear broken or irregular. Show some patience and you'll notice striking sexual dimorphism: males are slender with wings fully covering the abdomen, while females are wider with wings that leave the abdomen exposed.

Think you can identify this one in the wild?

Play Now