Polyzosteria mitchelli
| Polyzosteria mitchelli | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Family: | Blattidae |
| Genus: | Polyzosteria |
| Species: | P. mitchelli |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyzosteria mitchelli Angas, 1847 [1] | |
Polyzosteria mitchelli, also known as Mitchell's diurnal cockroach[2] or the Mardi Gras cockroach, is a species of bush cockroach found in Australia. It is a diurnal species and its typical habitat is semi-arid regions of Australia's warm temperate zone.
Description
Polyzosteria mitchelli is a wingless, dorsally-flattened insect. It is typically blue and yellow in colour, and thus is one of the most strikingly coloured Australian cockroaches. It is primarily found in semi-arid areas of Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.[3]
P. mitchelli sprays a pungent defensive fluid from glands in its abdomen when disturbed.[4]
References
- ^ "species Polyzosteria mitchelli Angas, 1847". Cockroach Species File. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
- ^ "R5574 Native Australian cockroach". NSW Department of Education and Training.
- ^ "Esperance Fauna". 8 May 2010.
- ^ George Beccaloni (Curator of cockroaches etc., The Natural History Museum, London). "Cockroaches: An amazing diversity".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
Media related to Polyzosteria mitchelli at Wikimedia Commons