Broad Wood Cockroach vs Magnetic Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Broad Wood Cockroach Magnetic Termite
Scientific Name Parcoblatta lata Amitermes meridionalis
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Ectobiidae Termitidae
Size 13-18 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Southeastern United States Oceania
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Broad Wood Cockroach

A distinctive flat, broadly shaped wood cockroach from the southeastern United States. Females have a wider body than most Parcoblatta species.

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Did You Know?

Its unusually broad and flat body shape allows it to squeeze into extremely narrow crevices under bark.

Magnetic Termite

Builds tall wedge-shaped mounds precisely oriented on a north-south axis to regulate internal temperature. The flat sides face east-west to warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon.

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Did You Know?

Every magnetic termite mound in northern Australia points the same direction — perfectly north-south like compass needles, to regulate internal temperature throughout the day.