Madeira Cockroach vs African Nasute Mound Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Madeira Cockroach African Nasute Mound Termite
Scientific Name Leucophaea maderae Nasutitermes latifrons
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Blaberidae Termitidae
Size 40-50mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Omnivores Wood Feeders
Regions Africa, South America, North America West Africa, Central Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Madeira Cockroach

A large pale brown cockroach that emits a foul-smelling liquid when disturbed. It cannot climb smooth surfaces. Originally from West Africa, it has become established in tropical regions worldwide.

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Did You Know?

It sprays a noxious defensive liquid from abdominal glands that smells terrible and stains skin.

African Nasute Mound Termite

A mound-building nasute termite found in West and Central African forests. Colonies construct carton mounds at ground level or on tree bases. Soldiers have a broad head with a short, wide nasute projection for spraying defensive terpenes.

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Did You Know?

The defensive secretion of nasute soldiers contains terpene compounds that are not only sticky but also toxic to small arthropod predators.