Top and bottom views of a large tan giant cockroach on a white background. — Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Giant Cockroach

Blaberus species

A big, glossy tropical cockroach from Central and South America that grows three inches long and helps break down dead plants.

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About the Giant Cockroach

Giant cockroaches, such as the Trinidad wood cockroach, come from tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America. Adults reach 3 inches or more. They are glossy, with black wings covering the abdomen and an amber-and-black mark behind the head shaped a bit like a skull. They eat decaying plant material.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Blaberus species^[1]
Size: 3 inches or more.^[1]
Diet: Decaying plant material.^[1]
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests.^[1]
Where it lives: Central and South America.^[1]
Conservation status: Common; not endangered. Not assessed by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

Some cockroaches look almost the same as ones that lived with dinosaurs.^[1]
Giant cockroaches have wings but don't fly.^[1]
They help recycle dead plants in the forest.^[1]

Vocabulary

decomposer: A living thing that breaks down dead plants and animals.
pronotum: The shield-like plate behind an insect's head.
insect: A small animal with six legs and a body in three parts: head, thorax and abdomen.
exoskeleton: A hard outer covering that supports and protects an animal's body.
tropical: Having a hot, wet climate near the equator.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · InvertebratesSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
Oakland ZooOakland, California · House of BugsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Trinidad Wood Cockroach.” https://www.sfzoo.org/trinidad-wood-cockroach/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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