Biology:Megaloblatta longipennis
| Megaloblatta longipennis | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Family: | Ectobiidae |
| Genus: | Megaloblatta |
| Species: | M. longipennis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Megaloblatta longipennis (Walker, 1868)
| |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
|
Blabera longipennis Walker, 1868 | |
Megaloblatta longipennis is a species of cockroach in the family Ectobiidae. It is the world's largest cockroach by length and wingspan. It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru;[3][4][5] although its range sometimes is reported to extend into Panama; this is based on misidentifications of the closely related and similar M. blaberoides (the only Central American species in the genus).[6]
Description
Members of M. longipennis are known for their exceptional size; the largest specimen measured 9.7 cm (3.8 in) in length, 4.5 cm (1.8 in) in width, and had a wingspan of 20 cm (8 in).[7] The related M. blaberoides, which is quite similar but differs in certain morphological features,[5] can reach about the same length and almost as much, 18.5 cm (7.3 in), in wingspan.[8]
Comparison with related species
Megaloblatta longipennis is commonly confused with its close relative M. blaberoides due to their large size and similar morphology. The following table highlights the main physical and geographic distinctions:
| Species | Max Length | Max Wingspan | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megaloblatta longipennis | 9.7 cm (3.8 in) | 20 cm (8 in) | Colombia, Ecuador, Peru |
| Megaloblatta blaberoides | ~9.5 cm (3.7 in) | 18.5 cm (7.3 in) | Central America (e.g., Panama) |
References
- ↑ "Catalogue of Life - 2012 Annual Checklist :: Species details". http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2012/details/species/id/9311097.
- ↑ Gray, John Edward; Walker, Francis (1868). "Blabera longipennis". Catalogue of the specimens of Blattariæ in the collection of the British Museum. pp. 8-9. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.8495. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35169#page/18.
- ↑ "Megaloblatta longipennis (MEGBLO)". Secretariat of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/MEGBLO.
- ↑ Vidlička, L. (2013). "Cockroaches (Blattaria) of Ecuador—checklist and history of research". Zootaxa 3599 (5): 401–445. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3599.5.1. PMID 24613997.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Salazar-E, J.A.; Maláver, J.C.R. (2012). "Relación e ilustración de algunas especies de Nyctiborinae de Colombia y Costa Rica (Insecta, Blattodea, Ectobiidae)". Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas 16 (2). ISSN 0123-3068. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0123-30682012000200016.
- ↑ Iturralde, D. (2023). "Diversidad y distribucíon de cucarachas (Insecta: Blattodea: Blattaria) en la República de Panamá" (in es). University of Panama. https://up-rid.up.ac.pa/6357/1/damaris_iturralde.pdf.
- ↑ "Largest cockroach" (in en-GB). https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-cockroach.
- ↑ Bell, W.J.; Roth, L.M.; Nalepa, C.A.; Wilson, E.O. (2007). "Body size". Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-8018-8616-4. https://archive.org/details/bell07/page/6.
- ↑ "Scientific Name of the Largest Cockroach". https://scientificnamea.com/scientific-name-of-the-largest-cockroach/.
Wikidata ☰ Q10579547 entry
 |  |
