Madagascar Termite vs Rhinoceros Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Madagascar Termite Rhinoceros Cockroach
Scientific Name Coptotermes truncatus Macropanesthia rothi
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Rhinotermitidae Blaberidae
Size 4-8 mm (workers); 5-9 mm (soldiers) 50-60mm
Habitat Caves Grasslands
Diet Wood Feeders Detritivores
Regions Madagascar Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Madagascar Termite

A subterranean termite with soft, pale workers and dark-headed soldiers that have elongated, rounded heads equipped with a frontal pore for secreting defensive fluids.

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Did You Know?

Soldiers defend the colony by squirting a sticky, irritating fluid from a gland on their head, entangling attackers like ants.

Rhinoceros Cockroach

A large burrowing cockroach related to the giant burrowing cockroach but with a more northern distribution. It is wingless and lives in deep soil burrows. It feeds on leaf litter pulled underground.

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Did You Know?

It digs permanent burrows up to a meter deep and emerges only at night to drag fallen leaves underground.