Drymaplaneta is an Australian genus of cockroaches. It belongs to family Blattidae, subfamily Polyzosteriinae and tribe Methanini.[1][2][3]
Description
Drymaplaneta can be distinguished from other Methanini by the greatly reduced, lobiform tegmina, with hind wings absent, and males having maxillary palps with the third and fourth segments swollen.[3]
As for the individual species:
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D. lobipennis and D. shelfordi are uniformly dark.[3]
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D. heydeniana is light yellowish brown, darkening apically, with translucent yellow margins on thorax and abdomen.[3]
- The remaining three species (D. communis, D. semivitta and D. variegata) are very similar to each other.[3] For example, D. semivitta is mostly dark brown/black with white/cream stripes along the sides of the head and thorax.[4]
- The hind tibiae of males are conspicuously expanded and flattened in D. semivitta and D. variegata, but not in any of the other species.[3]
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D. variegata is lighter in colour than D. semivitta, darkening apically.[3] The possibility of synonymy of these two nominal species has been suggested.[5]
Biodiversity and distribution
There are six species of Drymaplaneta, all endemic to Australia.[6] Two of these species, D. heydeniana and D. semivitta, have been introduced to New Zealand.[7]
Ecology
Species of Drymaplaneta mainly occur in outdoor habitats such as under logs, loose bark, ground covers, leaf litter, decks, plant pots, and inside electrical and irrigation boxes.[4][8] They sometimes enter buildings but are considered harmless to humans.[4][8] They feed on organic matter, often that which is decaying.[4]
References
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^ Australia, Atlas of Living. "Genus: Drymaplaneta". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
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^ "Drymaplaneta Tepper, 1893". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
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^ a b c d e f g Mackerras, M.J. 1968: Australian Blattidae (Blattodea) IX. Revision of the Polyzosteriinae tribe Methanini, Tryonicinae, and Blattinae. Australian Journal of Zoology, 16(3): 511-575. doi:10.1071/ZO9680511
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^ a b c d Arakelian, G. (December 2020). "Gisborne cockroach (Drymaplaneta semivitta)" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-12-12.
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^ Ramsay, G.W. 1975: Appendix to the Gisborne cockroach. New Zealand entomologist, 6(1): 72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1975.9723106 PDF Archived February 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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^ "Australian Faunal Directory". Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
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^ "Drymaplaneta - Biota of NZ". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
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^ a b Archer, William (2014-07-06). "Esperance Fauna: Drymaplaneta variegata - Flat-footed Wood Runner". Esperance Fauna. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
Media related to Drymaplaneta at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Drymaplaneta at Wikispecies
