Drymaplaneta
Genus of cockroaches
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Drymaplaneta is an Australian genus of cockroaches. It belongs to family Blattidae, subfamily Polyzosteriinae and tribe Methanini.[1][2][3]
| Drymaplaneta | |
|---|---|
| |
| Drymaplaneta semivitta | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Family: | Blattidae |
| Subfamily: | Polyzosteriinae |
| Genus: | Drymaplaneta |
| Species | |
|
Drymaplaneta communis | |
Description
Drymaplaneta can be distinguished from other Methanini by the greatly reduced, lobiform tegmina, with hind wings absent, and males having maxillary palps with the third and fourth segments swollen.[3]
As for the individual species:
- D. lobipennis and D. shelfordi are uniformly dark.[3]
- D. heydeniana is light yellowish brown, darkening apically, with translucent yellow margins on thorax and abdomen.[3]
- The remaining three species (D. communis, D. semivitta and D. variegata) are very similar to each other.[3] For example, D. semivitta is mostly dark brown/black with white/cream stripes along the sides of the head and thorax.[4]
- The hind tibiae of males are conspicuously expanded and flattened in D. semivitta and D. variegata, but not in any of the other species.[3]
- D. variegata is lighter in colour than D. semivitta, darkening apically.[3] The possibility of synonymy of these two nominal species has been suggested.[5]
Biodiversity and distribution
There are six species of Drymaplaneta, all endemic to Australia.[6] Two of these species, D. heydeniana and D. semivitta, have been introduced to New Zealand.[7]
Ecology
Species of Drymaplaneta mainly occur in outdoor habitats such as under logs, loose bark, ground covers, leaf litter, decks, plant pots, and inside electrical and irrigation boxes.[4][8] They sometimes enter buildings but are considered harmless to humans.[4][8] They feed on organic matter, often that which is decaying.[4]
