Mitchell's Diurnal Cockroach vs Cathedral Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mitchell's Diurnal Cockroach Cathedral Termite
Scientific Name Polyzosteria mitchelli Nasutitermes triodiae
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Blattidae Termitidae
Size 30-40 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions Australia Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mitchell's Diurnal Cockroach

A large, flightless cockroach with a shiny dark blue-black body found in arid Australia. Unlike most cockroaches, it is active during the day.

💡

Did You Know?

Its bold daytime activity is thought to be possible because its dark, hard body deters predators.

Cathedral Termite

Builds enormous mound structures up to 8 meters tall — the tallest structures relative to builder size of any animal. Mounds have sophisticated ventilation and temperature regulation.

💡

Did You Know?

Proportionally, termite mounds are the tallest structures built by any animal — if humans built at the same scale, our buildings would be over 1.5 km tall.