Megaloblatta longipennis

Megaloblatta longipennis is a species of cockroach in the family Ectobiidae. It is the world's largest cockroach by length and wingspan. It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru;^[3][4][5] although its range sometimes is reported to extend into Panama; this is based on misidentifications of the closely related and similar M. blaberoides (the only Central American species in the genus).^[6]

Megaloblatta longipennis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Family:	Ectobiidae
Genus:	Megaloblatta
Species:	M. longipennis
Binomial name
Megaloblatta longipennis (Walker, 1868)
Synonyms[1][2]
Blabera longipennis Walker, 1868 Megaloblatta peruviana Dohrn, 1887

Description

Members of M. longipennis are known for their exceptional size; the largest specimen measured 9.7 cm (3.8 in) in length, 4.5 cm (1.8 in) in width, and had a wingspan of 20 cm (8 in).^[7] The related M. blaberoides, which is quite similar but differs in certain morphological features,^[5] can reach about the same length and almost as much, 18.5 cm (7.3 in), in wingspan.^[8]

Comparison with Related Species

Megaloblatta longipennis is commonly confused with its close relative M. blaberoides due to their large size and similar morphology. The following table highlights the main physical and geographic distinctions:

Comparison of Megaloblatta Species

Species	Max Length	Max Wingspan	Distribution
Megaloblatta longipennis	9.7 cm (3.8 in)	20 cm (8 in)	Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Megaloblatta blaberoides	~9.5 cm (3.7 in)	18.5 cm (7.3 in)	Central America (e.g., Panama)

^[9]