Saddle-backed Bush-cricket vs American Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Saddle-backed Bush-cricket American Cockroach
Scientific Name Ephippiger ephippiger Periplaneta americana
Order Orthoptera Blattodea
Family Tettigoniidae Blattidae
Size 22-30mm 35-53 mm
Habitat Heathland Gardens
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Saddle-backed Bush-cricket

A robust bush-cricket named for its saddle-shaped pronotum. It has vestigial wings used only for sound production. Both males and females can stridulate and will duet with each other.

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Did You Know?

Both sexes sing, and females respond to male calls, making them one of the few katydids where both sexes duet.

American Cockroach

Despite its name, native to Africa. One of the largest common cockroaches. Can run at 5.4 km/h — proportionally, one of the fastest land insects. Can survive weeks without its head.

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Did You Know?

A cockroach can live for a week without its head — it breathes through spiracles on its body and only dies because it cannot drink water.