Bug FAQIndian Domino Cockroach
Therea petiveriana · Order: Blattodea · Family: Corydiidae
The Indian domino cockroach has a striking black-and-white pattern that mimics an aggressive ground beetle and a hidden orange-yellow abdomen under its wings. It lives on the ground in scrub forests of southern India, burrowing under leaf litter or loose soil and is active at dawn and dusk.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults show a black-and-white pattern that likely mimics the beetle Anthia sexguttata. Spots on the asymmetrical tegmina line up to look symmetrical when the wings are closed. The right lobe of the tegmen is bright orange-yellow.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Their gut contains symbiotic bacteria and flagellates that help digest food.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
After mating, a female repels other males by kicking them with her hind legs. She can produce up to 13 oothecae over a period of 3 to 40 days.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They forage actively in the early morning and late evening.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to southern India.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Captive specimens often identified as T. petiveriana may actually be T. bernhardti, which differs mainly in hindwing shape and subtle tegmina pattern details.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell if my cockroach is the Indian domino species or a look-alike?
Check the hindwing shape and the fine details of the tegmina pattern; T. bernhardti differs from T. petiveriana in these features.
Source: Wikipedia
When are Indian domino cockroaches active?
They are most active during early morning and late evening hours.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does the Indian domino cockroach come from?
It is a crepuscular species native to southern India.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the Indian domino cockroach look like?
Adults have a black-and-white pattern that mimics a ground beetle, a hidden orange-yellow abdomen, and symmetrical spots on the tegmina when closed.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Corydiidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therea_petiveriana
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.