Balta bicolor explained

Balta bicolor is a type of cockroach from the genus Balta.^[1] Native to eastern Australia, the species has been identified in New Zealand since 2009.

Description

Balta bicolor has a relatively pale face, occiput and interocular area, with dark antennae. It is visually similar to Ellipsidion cockroaches, and can be distinguished from Balta transversa by its deeper head proportions.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to eastern Australia.^[2] In 2009, Biosecurity New Zealand first identified the species in New Zealand (as Balta bicolour), after being found in an Auckland kitchen.^[3]

Balta bicolor is typically found in plant litter or under bark.^[4]

Further reading

• Dahms, E. 1972. Type-specimens of cockroaches (Blattodea) in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 16: 275
• Book: Rentz, D. . A Guide to the Cockroaches of Australia. 260. CSIRO Publishing . Collingwood . 2014.

Notes and References

1. Hebard, M. (1943) Australian Blattidae of the subfamilies Chorisoneurinae and Ectobiinae (Orthoptera). Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 4, 1–129.
2. Web site: species Balta bicolor Hebard, 1943 . Cockroach Species File . 21 January 2024.
3. Pest watch: 20/02/2009 – 31/03/2009. Biosecurity Magazine . 91 . 26-27 . 2009 . MAF Biosecurity New Zealand .
4. Web site: Species Balta bicolor Hebard, 1943 . Australian Faunal Directory . 21 January 2024.