Bush cockroach

Ellipsidion humerale · Order: Blattodea · Family: Ectobiidae

Harmless. The bush cockroach is harmless to people, pets, and homes.

Source: Wikipedia

Bush cockroach
Photo: pimelea, CC BY

Ellipsidion humerale, known as the bush cockroach, does not bite, sting, or cause any damage. It is considered a harmless species throughout its range.

Source: Wikipedia

Is it a pest in the house?

The species is harmless and does not become a household pest.

Source: Wikipedia

Does it bite or sting?

It does not bite or sting people.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It lives in northern Australia and is also found near Perth and Brisbane.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Its native range includes northern parts of Australia and the areas around Perth and Brisbane.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Bush cockroach photo 3
Photo: Lek Khauv, CC BY
Bush cockroach photo 4
Photo: unknown, CC0
Bush cockroach photo 5
Photo: Plum, CC BY

Questions people ask

Do bush cockroaches bite or sting?

No, they do not bite or sting people.

Source: Wikipedia

Are bush cockroaches dangerous to my home?

They are harmless and do not damage homes or belongings.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Ectobiidae)

German CockroachGerman CockroachBlattella germanicaCan spread germs or diseasePennsylvania Wood CockroachPennsylvania Wood CockroachParcoblatta pennsylvanicaNuisance, not dangerousAsian CockroachAsian CockroachBlattella asahinaiNuisance, not dangerousBrown-banded CockroachBrown-banded CockroachSupella longipalpaCan spread germs or diseaseVariable CockroachVariable CockroachPlanuncus tingitanusAmber Wood CockroachAmber Wood CockroachEctobius vittiventrisHarmless

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsidion_humerale

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.

How this page works

This is one bug's fact sheet. The colored box at the top says whether it is dangerous. Sections below cover how to recognize it, whether it is a pest, and how to deal with it. The US map shows which states have records; tap a state to see other bugs there.

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