Species Blattella germanica (Linnaeus, 1767)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Blatta germanica Linnaeus, C. 1767. Systema naturae, per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum caracteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae [= Stockholm] : L. Salvii Tomus I. Regnum Animale(pars 2) Editio duodecima, reformata [3 vols., 1766–68], pp. 533–1327. [688].

  Type data:

   Holotype LS ♂ adult, Denmark (as Dania).
• Ischnoptera paralella Tepper, J.G.O. 1893. The Blattariae of Australia and Polynesia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 17: 25-126 [published June] [53].

  Type data:

   Lectotype SAMA ♀ adult, Kangaroo Is., SA.
  Paralectotype(s) SAMA ♀ adult.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Roth, L.M. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Blattella Caudell (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellidae). Entomologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 22: 1-221 [22] (Tepper listed two specimens from Kangaroo Is. and Beverley, WA; Roth mentions an invalid holotype specimen from SAMA labelled 'Type' from locality not listed in original reference, but does not mention Beverey specimen as a paralectotype, contrary to Art. 74, ICZN 1985)).
• Phyllodromia magna Tepper, J.G.O. 1895. Descriptions of new or little known species of Blattariae. Gryllacridae and Stenopelmatidae collected at Lake Callabonna, S.A. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 19: 19-24 [19].

  Type data:

   Holotype SAMA ♀ adult, Lake Callabonna, SA.
• Ischnoptera parallela Roth, L.M. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Blattella Caudell (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellidae). Entomologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 22: 1-221 [18] [unjustified emendation of Ischnoptera paralella Tepper, 1893 according to Art. 32(b)iii, ICZN 1985)].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Roth, L.M. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Blattella Caudell (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellidae). Entomologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 22: 1-221 [18] (worldwide synonymies)

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

Introduced from unknown locality.

Ecological Descriptors

Peridomestic, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Introduced.

General References

Harz, K. & Kaltenbach, A. 1976. Die orthoptera Europas. Series Entomologica 12: 1-434 [199] (designated male and female invalid 'neotypes')

Kevan, D.K.McE. 1978. Proposal to conserve Blatta germanica Linnaeus, 1767 and to designate it as a type-species of Blattella Caudell, 1903 (Insecta, Dictyoptera, Blattodea). Z.N.(S.) 680. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 35: 34-39

Kevan, D.K.McE. & Princis, K. 1961. Blatta transfuga Brünnich, 1763 (Insecta, Dictyoptera); proposed suppression under the plenary powers. Z.N.(S.) 680. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 18(5): 330-331

Marshall, J.A. 1983. The orthopteroid insects described by Linnaeus, with notes on the Linnaean collection. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 78: 375-396 [387] (current type status)

Melville, R.V. 1982. Opinion 1231 Blatta germanica Linnaeus, 1767 (Insecta, Dictyoptera): conserved and designated as type species of Blattella Caudell, 1903. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 39(4): 243-246 [243] (Blatta transfuga Brünnich, 1763, senior synonym of Blatta germanica Linnaeus, 1767, suppressed under plenary powers)

Princis, K. 1969. Pars 13: Blattariae: Subordo Epilamproidea, Fam. Blattellidae. pp. 713-1038 in Beier, M. (ed.). Orthopterorum Catalogus. 's-Gravenhage : Dr. W. Junk. [807] (comprehensive bibliography)

History of changes