Protermes Inquiline Termite vs Discoid Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Protermes Inquiline Termite Discoid Cockroach
Scientific Name Protermes prorepens Blaberus discoidalis
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Blaberidae
Size 2-4 mm 35-45mm
Habitat Woodlands Caves
Diet Fungus Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions East Africa, Southern Africa Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Protermes Inquiline Termite

A small inquiline termite that lives within the mounds of larger fungus-growing termite species in Africa. Colonies are tiny and discrete, occupying small chambers within the walls of the host mound. Workers feed on fungal material.

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Did You Know?

Inquiline termites like this species are the cuckoos of the termite world, sneaking into other species' elaborate mounds to exploit their resources.

Discoid Cockroach

A large flat cockroach with a distinctive discoid body shape and a dark chevron pattern on its pale pronotum. Adults have full wings but rarely fly. It is a common laboratory and feeder insect.

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Did You Know?

It is widely used in scientific research on insect locomotion because of its consistent running behavior on treadmills.