Wallaces Golden Birdwing vs Dusky Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wallaces Golden Birdwing Dusky Cockroach
Scientific Name Ornithoptera croesus Periplaneta nigra
Order Lepidoptera Blattodea
Family Papilionidae Blattidae
Size 160-190 mm wingspan 25-32 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Asia Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Near Threatened Not Evaluated

Wallaces Golden Birdwing

Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who called it the finest specimen he ever captured. Males are brilliant orange-gold and black. Found only in North Maluku, Indonesia.

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Did You Know?

Wallace was so overwhelmed by catching this butterfly in 1859 that he wrote his head began to ache and he felt close to fainting from the beauty of the creature.

Dusky Cockroach

A dark-colored cockroach closely related to the American cockroach. It inhabits tropical forests across Africa.

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Did You Know?

It can often be found sharing habitats with the American cockroach in African port cities.