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Longest Cockroach

Of the approximately 4,000 known cockroach species in the world today, the largest by wingspan is the Megaloblatta longipennis. The wingspan of this species can reach up to 18 centimeters in length. The cockroach with the largest mass is the Macropanesthia rhinocerus, which can weigh up to 50 grams. This species can also grow over three inches in length. Perhaps the longest cockroach species documented, the Blaberus giganteus can reach nearly four inches in length.

Most well-known cockroach pests measure less than 1.5 inches in length. The American cockroach, or Periplaneta Americana, is approximately 1.5 inches long; the German cockroach, or Blattella germanica, measures 1/2-inch in length. The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, grows up to 5/8-inch in length, while the Oriental cockroach female can be longer than one inch. Brown-banded cockroach only grows to reach 1/2-inch in length and the smoky brown cockroach is slightly smaller.

Tropical cockroaches grow to be much larger than domestic species. Extinct relatives of cockroaches-such as the Carboniferous Archimylacris and the Permian Apthoroblattina--were many times larger than the longest living species.

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