Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Maoriblatta
Species:
M. novaeseelandiae
Binomial name
Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae
(Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865)
Synonyms[1]
  • Polyzosteria novaeseelandiae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865
  • Periplaneta fortipes Walker, 1868
  • Blatta forticeps Hutton, 1881

Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae, or the large black kēkerengū, is a species of cockroach in the family Blattidae.[2] Its other names include black stink-roach, black stink cockroach, black cockroach and papata pango. It is known for the defensive chemical it produces when disturbed.

Description

Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae is a large cockroach (25-29 mm long)[3] with a glossy black integument.[2] Its legs are dark red and antennae brown at the base, becoming lighter coloured towards the apices. Its dorsal surface is covered in fine punctures. It is the largest endemic cockroach in New Zealand. This cockroach is flightless. The holotype specimen is stored at the Natural History Museum, Vienna.[3]

Distribution and habitat

A typical coastal habitat of the species

This species is found in native lowland forests throughout the North Island[4] and in coastal regions of northern areas of the South Island in New Zealand.[5] Collection records exist from the Three Kings Islands in the north to Kaikōura in the south. Its altitudinal range is from sea level to 600 m on the North Island.[3] It is found among grasses and beneath rotten logs,[6] stones and debris,[7] where it eats decaying plant material.[8] It is usually nocturnal, hiding behind tree bark,[4] under stones or logs during the day.[7]

Defence

This species of cockroach has a defensive behaviour of releasing an opaque yellow-coloured liquid from a scent gland that is located inside the abdomen.[9] It will use this defence if handled or disturbed from its retreat.[4] The liquid is secreted from an opening between the sixth and seventh sternites. The gland only produces the chemical defence in adult cockroaches. Research has shown that predators including weka, pūkeko and mice are effectively repelled by the scent produced by Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae.[9]

References

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  1. ↑ "Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865)". Catalogue of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 Anisyutkin, Leonid N. "New and little known Blattidae (Dictyoptera) from the collection of the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève" (PDF). Revue suisse de Zoologie. 121: 33–50.
  3. 1 2 3 Johns, P.M. (1966). "The cockroaches of New Zealand". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 8 (2): 93–136.
  4. 1 2 3 Lindsey, Terence; Morris, Rod (2000). Field Guide to New Zealand Wildlife. Collins. p. 192. ISBN 1-86950-300-7.
  5. ↑ Roth, L. M. (1999). "New cockroach species, redescriptions, and records, mostly from Australia, and a description of Metanocticola christmasensis gen. nov., sp. nov., from Christmas Island (Blattaria)" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 19 (3): 327–364.
  6. ↑ Somerfield, K.G. (1973). "Insects from the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand" (PDF). Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society. 20: 53–57.
  7. 1 2 "Cockroach (Black) Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae". Taranaki Educational Resource Research Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Black cockroach". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  9. 1 2 Benn, M.H.; Hutchins, R.F.N; Folwell, Robin; Cox, Jennifer (1977). "Defensive Scent of the Black Stink-Roach Platyzosteria novaeseelandiae". Journal of Insect Physiology. 23 (10): 1281–1284. doi:10.1016/0022-1910(77)90071-3.
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