American Cockroach vs Black Garden Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | American Cockroach | Black Garden Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Periplaneta americana | Lasius niger |
| Order | Blattodea | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Blattidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 35-53 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Worldwide | Europe, Western Asia, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
American Cockroach
Despite its name, native to Africa. One of the largest common cockroaches. Can run at 5.4 km/h — proportionally, one of the fastest land insects. Can survive weeks without its head.
Did You Know?
A cockroach can live for a week without its head — it breathes through spiracles on its body and only dies because it cannot drink water.
Black Garden Ant
The most common ant in Europe, dark brown to black with a slightly pubescent body. Colonies are monogynous and can persist for decades under a single long-lived queen. Workers are highly adaptable generalist foragers.
Did You Know?
Queens of this species can live for nearly 30 years, making them some of the longest-lived insects on Earth.