Harlequin Cockroach

Harlequin Cockroach

Neostylopyga rhombifolia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Guadalajara

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

8 Verified sightings at Guadalajara
10 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Harlequin Cockroach

Neostylopyga rhombifolia, the harlequin roach, is a species of flightless cockroach in the family Blattidae. It is a synanthropic species, often found in houses, and it is usually considered a pest. It has been introduced globally to tropical and subtropical regions as a result of trade. Its original native range is unknown, but is believed to be somewhere in tropical Asia.

Harlequin roach adults are around 20 to 27 mm (0.79 to 1.06 in) long. Both males and females are flightless. They lack hindwings, and the forewings (tegminia) are reduced to two small lobes. Both also have distinctive black and yellow patterns. Females are typically larger and stouter than males. Harlequin roaches are popular as pets due to their striking coloration.

Harlequin roaches produce a strong-smelling chemical defense, amyl acetate, that has been compared to almond, cherry, pear, or banana extracts. The mitochondrial genome of the harlequin roach was sequenced in 2016. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~30%
2 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Davao City 🇵🇭 Philippines
~30%
2 Yogyakarta 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
3 Manila 🇵🇭 Philippines
~10%
4 Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte] 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
5 Jakarta 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
6 New Delhi 🇮🇳 India
~10%
7 Kaohsiung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
8 Monterrey 🇲🇽 México
<5%
9 Guadalajara 🇲🇽 México
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Harlequin Cockroach in Guadalajara?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Cockroach sighting in Guadalajara on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 154th most-seen of the 229 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Harlequin Cockroach in Guadalajara?

March and April

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Cockroach in Guadalajara on a given day, against under 5% in May to February, the lowest months. Those are among Guadalajara's driest months, with almost no rain against 210 mm in July.

What time of day is best to see a Harlequin Cockroach?

Between 8 and 11 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Harlequin Cockroach sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Is Guadalajara the best place to see a Harlequin Cockroach?

9th of 9

Of the 9 cities where we can rate Harlequin Cockroach sightings, Guadalajara ranks 9th at under 5%. The best odds are in Davao City (Philippines, about 30%), Yogyakarta (Indonesia, about 10%) and Manila (Philippines, about 10%).

Where does the Harlequin Cockroach sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Harlequin Cockroach is recorded against all the insects logged in Guadalajara (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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