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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.

🐞 Insects
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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

Sources

  1. [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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