The common shining cockroach (Drymaplaneta communis) is a cockroach native to south-east Australia.[1] It feeds on organic matter and is often found under the bark of eucalypt trees. During the late 1990s and 2000s, this cockroach appears to have had a population explosion in Sydney and Melbourne and is commonly found inside houses.[2] This population increase likely coincides with an extended dry period, where many suburban gardeners added mulch to their gardens which provided a habitat for the common shining cockroach.[3] Despite commonly being found inside houses, the common shining cockroach does not pose the same health risk as introduced cockroaches.[4] [5]