Bug FAQVariable Cockroach
Planuncus tingitanus · Order: Blattodea · Family: Ectobiidae
The variable cockroach gets its name from the many different patterns on its abdomen. It prefers warm, sheltered places in towns such as building walls, parks and gardens, and it lives closer to people than native relatives. It originated in northern Morocco and Algeria and is not considered a household pest because it rarely reproduces indoors.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
In Britain it is called the variable cockroach because its abdominal markings vary widely.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Unlike German cockroaches, it rarely reproduces indoors and is not regarded as a household pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It thrives in warm, sheltered urban habitats like building walls, parks and gardens. It lives much closer to humans than native Ectobiinae species and can be found on walls or even inside buildings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It was first described from the northern part of Morocco. It has also been recorded from Algeria.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It looks similar to Ectobius vittiventris, a rapidly spreading European species. It cannot be reliably separated from Ectobius finoti by constant morphological traits.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Washington.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Why is it called the variable cockroach?
Because the patterns on its abdomen vary a lot.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does the variable cockroach live?
It prefers warm, sheltered spots in towns such as building walls, parks and gardens, and it often stays close to humans.
Source: Wikipedia
Is the variable cockroach a household pest?
No, it rarely reproduces indoors and is not considered a household pest.
Source: Wikipedia
What other cockroaches look like the variable cockroach?
It resembles Ectobius vittiventris and cannot be reliably distinguished from Ectobius finoti.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Ectobiidae)
German CockroachBlattella germanicaCan spread germs or disease
Pennsylvania Wood CockroachParcoblatta pennsylvanicaNuisance, not dangerous
Asian CockroachBlattella asahinaiNuisance, not dangerous
Brown-banded CockroachSupella longipalpaCan spread germs or disease
Amber Wood CockroachEctobius vittiventrisHarmless
Tawny CockroachEctobius pallidusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planuncus_tingitanus_s.l.
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.