Lipas (Panesthia angustipennis)

Lipas (Panesthia angustipennis) is a species belonging to the family Blaberidae. As a macrofaunal decomposer, this black-winged cockroach reaches a total length of 55 mm in its adult stage, with wings measuring 35 mm. These cockroaches feed on woody debris, creating cavities within the wood while producing wood fragments and fecal pellets.

P. angustipennis typically displays a black or dark brown base color. Males have black heads, brown eyes, ocelli, and yellowish-brown labra (upper lips). Their antennae are black, with pale yellow terminal segments, while their sternites and legs are reddish-brown or black.



Females resemble males, though their dorsal margins are more rounded, and the anterior edge of the pronotum features an excision (a notch or gap). The nymphs are black and possess four dorsal segments, with four yellowish-brown markings located on the third and fourth segments. The abdomen consists of six or seven segments.

This species inhabits tropical regions rich in woody vegetation, at elevations of up to 1,500 meters. It plays a crucial role in the decomposition of wood; the cavities created by these cockroaches increase the surface area of the wood, thereby facilitating the activity of decomposing microorganisms.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blaberoidea
Family: Blaberidae
Subfamily: Panesthiinae
Genus: Panesthia Serville (1831)
Species: Panesthia angustipennis Illiger (1801)

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 大弯翅蠊 - 狭翅硬蠊 - 黑褐硬蠊
Chinese (traditional): 狹翅硬蠊
English: Lipas
Indonesia: Lipas
Japanese: オオゴキブリ
Java: Lipas

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium