What's this little guy called?

Insomniak · #1 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 04:56 PM

I noticed this little guy running for cover in the middle of a busy street today.
Hundreds of people around and he was searching for a dark place. I "escorted" him to the shade and almost lost him when I tried to remove him to a safer place using a tissue. He panicked totally when he saw white.
On the spur of the moment I took off my sock (black) and held it in front of him and he literally RAN into it.
I let him go in a nearby lane where he had some cover and access to dark places. I hope he survives.

Not a very clear pic, I know, but I hope you can ID him for me, please?

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 05:17 PM

Hi Insomniak!

I'm not 100% sure on who it is, though the head and entennas make me think it's a cockroach of some kind? It looks like something that you may come across associated with houses... sorry, I'm pretty lost here! I just can't match the aesthetics to any other beetles... how long was he?

Someone should offer you more help soon

Insomniak · #3 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 05:40 PM

Hi there!
He was a little under 2cm in length, somewhere around 1.75cm, I'd say.
The antennae were a little shorter than his body length.

He was close to some older city buildings with basements and only about 100m from a river.
I got the impression he had been disturbed and was fleeing for cover.

asheleaf · #4 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 05:51 PM

looks like a cockroach to me too?

Ashe

Insomniak · #5 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 07:27 PM

Ok, I'll start searching through roach pictures to find this one.
I had assumed it was a beetle of some kind!

Tiggrx · #6 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 07:29 PM

I think it is a Common Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) - used to see a lot of them at one place I worked

Insomniak · #7 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 07:55 PM

Just checked pictures of Blatta orientalis and he just wasn't that shape.
He was very noticeably broader at the end than any of the ones I've just looked at online.
I guess there can be differences like this?

asheleaf · #8 (**permalink**) 28-04-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insomniak

Just checked pictures of Blatta orientalis and he just wasn't that shape.
He was very noticeably broader at the end than any of the ones I've just looked at online.
I guess there can be differences like this?

Try looking at pics of nymphs rather than adults. I cant see any wings in the photo so I suspect its a juvenile. Its definitely a cockroach but the photo just doesnt have enough detail to work out which one.

Ashe

Insomniak · #9 (**permalink**) 28-04-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asheleaf

Try looking at pics of nymphs rather than adults. I cant see any wings in the photo so I suspect its a juvenile. Its definitely a cockroach but the photo just doesnt have enough detail to work out which one.

Ashe

Excellent. Will do. Thanks, Ashe.

I'm feeling quite chuffed that I assisted a little cockroach across the road to safety!