Ellipsidion australe (ECTOBIIDAE) Eastern Ellipsidion

The Eastern Ellipsidion Ellipsidion australe is beautiful bush cockroach widespread from the north of the Northern Territory right along the east coast of Australia to Victoria. This one in the photo was escaping from an area where we were weeding, and was getting a bit dusty and dirty, and occasionally flipping over onto its back in the debris.

This last stage nymph was on the leaves of a citrus plant. These insects are brown to dark brown with a white pattern. The thorax is dark brown, yellow around the edge. Brown forewings cover the hind wings and black abdomen. They have long spiny legs, their antennae are longer than their body which is flattish. The head is small and pointing downwards, concealed under the pronotum. They are active in the day, running in foliage.

The patterns of these beautiful bush cockroaches are quite intricate, especially as nymphs (instars).

Here is a photo showing the underside of the cockroach, less often photographed because it is normally hidden by the creature hugging close to the surfaces over which it travels.