Preliminary surveys of the endangered Lord Howe Island cockroach Panesthia lata (Blattodea: Blaberidae) on two islands within the Lord Howe Group, Australia

A significant population of the endangered Lord Howe Island cockroach (Panesthia lata) persists on Blackburn and Roach islands, with estimates of 10,000 and 3,500 individuals respectively. The species exhibits a preference for sheltering within specific microenvironments, such as beneath the Banyan tree on Blackburn Island or in Leafy Flat Sedge habitat on Roach Island, rather than foraging openly. This behavior suggests that surface counts underestimate population sizes, while novel attraction stations show potential for more accurate monitoring without disturbing habitats. The cockroach appears to play a role in soil conditioning and nutrient cycling, feeding primarily on dead vegetation. Maintaining rodent-free status on these islands is critical for the species' survival, offering hope for reintroduction efforts once eradication programs are completed.

Carlile, N., Priddel, D., & O’Dwyer, T. (2017). Preliminary surveys of the endangered Lord Howe Island cockroach Panesthia lata (Blattodea: Blaberidae) on two islands within the Lord Howe Group, Australia. Austral Entomology, 57(2), 207–213. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12281