Parcoblatta americana
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Parcoblatta americana, the western wood cockroach, is a species of wood cockroach that occurs in Mexico and the western United States. The species has significant size and color variation, thought to be due to environmental conditions, particularly the effect of aridity.
The male of the species has normal, fully developed tegmina and wings, and a tuft of hairs on the back of its middle abdomen. The general coloration in the male can vary from shining dark brown or blackish to a pale yellowish to slightly reddish tan. The tegmina are translucent in all colorations, and the ocelli (simple eye spots) are a yellowish tan.
Females of the species have very greatly reduced tegmina, represented by lobe-like lateral pads, and no hind wings. The female general coloration ranges from a shining reddish orange or brown, slightly darker on the back of the abdomen, to a shining dark brown, or shining black with blackish brown underparts. The ocelli are tannish in all colorations.
Morgan Hebard's 1917 description included measurement ranges based on 14 male specimens and 7 female specimens: The male P. americana has a single specialized area on... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Wood Cockroach sighting in San Diego on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 328th most-seen of the 693 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.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Wood Cockroach in San Diego on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Western Wood Cockroach sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Western Wood Cockroach sightings, San Diego has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Los Angeles (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Western Wood Cockroach is recorded against all the insects logged in San Diego (18 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.
