Cuban Burrowing Cockroach vs Giant Northern Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuban Burrowing Cockroach Giant Northern Termite
Scientific Name Byrsotria fumigata Mastotermes darwiniensis
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Blaberidae Mastotermitidae
Size 30-40 mm 10-15mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions Cuba, Caribbean Oceania
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Cuban Burrowing Cockroach

A stocky burrowing cockroach native to Cuba. It spends most of its life underground in tropical soils.

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Did You Know?

When disturbed, it emits a strong musty odor from defensive glands as a deterrent to predators.

Giant Northern Termite

The most primitive living termite and the only surviving member of its family. It retains many cockroach-like features including laying eggs in cockroach-like oothecae. It is extremely destructive to timber.

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Did You Know?

It is a living fossil, the most primitive termite alive, retaining cockroach-like features that link termites to their ancestors.