Mitchell's diurnal cockroach
Mitchell's diurnal cockroach is one of the most colourful cockroaches in Australia. It is bright blue and yellow, and it has no wings at all. Unlike many cockroaches, it is busy in the daytime, not at night.
How fast is it?
Fun facts
Its body is flat, which helps it squeeze into narrow gaps.
Its blue and yellow colours make it one of the most eye-catching cockroaches in Australia.
When something bothers it, it sprays a stinky liquid from its belly to scare the enemy away.
It is also called the Mardi Gras cockroach, after a colourful party.
Most asked questions about Mitchell's diurnal cockroach
?Is Mitchell's diurnal cockroach dangerous?
No. It does not bite or sting, but it can spray a smelly liquid if you disturb it.
?What does diurnal mean?
Diurnal means active in the daytime. This cockroach is out and about while the sun is up.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Polyzosteria mitchelli
- Group
- Cockroaches and termites
- Family
- Blattidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Blattodea > Blattidae
- Lives on
- Australia and Oceania
- Also known as
- Mardi Gras cockroach
Where the facts come from
- Polyzosteria mitchelli (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Kairau. CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.
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