Giant Northern Termite vs Wide-horned Hissing Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Northern Termite Wide-horned Hissing Cockroach
Scientific Name Mastotermes darwiniensis Gromphadorhina oblongonota
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Mastotermitidae Blaberidae
Size 10-15mm 50-70 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Oceania Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

Wide-horned Hissing Cockroach

A large Madagascan hissing cockroach with prominent wide pronotal bumps. It is often confused with G. portentosa but has a different horn shape.

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Did You Know?

Each individual produces a unique hiss pattern that other cockroaches can distinguish.