Bug FAQBalta bicolor
Balta bicolor · Order: Blattodea · Family: Ectobiidae
Balta bicolor is a cockroach with a pale face, occiput and inter-ocular area and dark antennae. It is native to eastern Australia and is usually found in plant litter or under bark.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It has a pale face, back of head and area between the eyes, with dark antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The cockroach shows a relatively pale face, occiput and inter-ocular area with dark antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It was first identified in New Zealand after being found in an Auckland kitchen in 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in plant litter or under bark.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to eastern Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
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
Variable CockroachPlanuncus tingitanus
Amber Wood CockroachEctobius vittiventrisHarmlessSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balta_bicolor
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.