Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2025-09-23
Page range: 41-62
Abstract views: 83
PDF downloaded: 7

New cockroaches from Far North Queensland, Australia (Blattodea: Ectobiidae: Blattellinae; Pseudophyllodromiinae)

College of Science and Engineering; James Cook University; PO Box 6811; Cairns; Qld.; 4870; Australia
CSIRO Australian National Insect Collection; National Research Collections Australia; PO Box 1700; Canberra; ACT 2601
Blattodea North Queensland cockroaches Blattellinae Pseudophyllodromiinae cockroach biology ootheca seasonal occurrence

Abstract

Five new species in two subfamilies of Ectobiidae are described, including one new genus, with notes on habitat and biology. The Blattellinae is represented by Carbrunneria cattana Rentz and Su, sp. nov., a species known from Cattana Wetlands, Smithfield Queensland. It is related to both C. maxi (Roth) and C. paramaxi (Roth). The taxonomic problems in Carbrunneria are briefly discussed. The strategic importance of designating the Cattana Wetlands as a type locality for new species is noted. Parectoneura queenslandica Rentz and Su, sp. nov. is the second known species in the genus of tiny, beetle-like cockroaches. It was discovered on the Tablelands north of Mareeba where it lives in the bases of native grasses. The ootheca was placed loosely in the grasses. Johnrehnia notata Rentz and Su, sp. nov. was described to provide a name for a common cockroach that is frequently attracted to lights where is causes concern among local residents when it enters dwellings. Its similarity in appearance to the German cockroach, Blattella germanica is noted and its relationship to other species of Johnrehnia is discussed. Cattaniaria tripartita Rentz and Su gen et sp. nov., is a relatively common Tablelands species that can be confused with at least 2 other unrelated species. It is described as a new genus. A table is presented to discriminate among those species. A new species group in the large subfamily Pseudophyllodromiinae is described. The Godeffroyi Group accommodates three species, one of which, B. rothi sp. nov. is locally common at times. A key to the species of the Godeffroyi Group is presented. Illustrations of all the relevant taxonomic characters and illustrations of all the species are presented.

 

References

  1. Beccaloni, G. (2024) Cockroach Species File. Available from: http://cockroach.archive.speciesfile.org/homepage/cockroach/Database.aspx (accessed 20 August 2025)
  2. Hebard, M. (1929) Studies in Malayan Blattidae (Orthoptera). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 81, 1–109.
  3. Hebard, M. (1943) Australian Blattidae of the subfamilies Chorisoneurinae and Ectobiinae (Orthoptera). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Monographs, Number 4, 1–129.
  4. Henderson, A., Henderson, D. & Sinclair, J. (2008) Bugs Alive: A Guide to Keeping Australian invertebrates. Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, 200 pp.
  5. Princis, K. (1969) Blattariae: subordo Epilamproidea: Fam. Blattellidae. In: Beier, M. (Ed.), Orthopterorum Catalogus. Pt. 13. W. Junk, The Hague, pp. 711–1038.
  6. Rentz, D.C.F. (2014) A Guide to the Cockroaches of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, 318 pp. https://doi.org/10.1071/9781486300372
  7. Roth, L.M. (1990) Revisionary studies on Blattellidae (Blattaria) from the Indo-Australian Region. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 28 (2), 597–663.
  8. Roth, L.M. (1991) New Combinations, synonymies, redescriptions, and new species of cockroaches, mostly Indo-Australian Blattellidae. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 5, 953–1021. https://doi.org/10.1071/IT9910953
  9. Roth, L.M. (1999) Descriptions of new taxa, redescriptions, and records of cockroaches, from Malaysia and Indonesia (Dictyoptera: Blattaria). Oriental Insects, 33, 109–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.1999.10433789
  10. Roth, L.M. (2000) The Australian cockroach genus Johnrehnia Princis (Blattellidae: Blattellinae). Oriental Insects, 34, 83–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2000.10417256
  11. Su, Y.N. (2016) A simple and quick method of displaying liquid-preserved morphological structures for microphotography. Zootaxa, 4208 (6), 592–593. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4208.6.6

How to Cite

Rentz, D.C. & Su, Y. (2025) New cockroaches from Far North Queensland, Australia (Blattodea: Ectobiidae: Blattellinae; Pseudophyllodromiinae). Zootaxa, 5696 (1), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.1.3