Generally, it’s not hard to differentiate between a cockroach and a beetle as they have quite different appearances.
But sometimes, you can still get confused, so I am listing a few unique differences which can help you differentiate a cockroach from a beetle.
- Beetles have very hard forewings with equal split, white roaches have leafy shape light wings folded on each other.
- Beetles head is extruded out while a roach head is hidden under its pronotum.
- Transition from body to head is prominant in a beetle than a cockroach.
- Beetles are Holometabolic which means it will have a life cycle as follows; Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult Beetle. Cockroaches are Hemimetaboli which means it will have a life cycle as follows; Egg → Young Nymph → Later Nymph → Adult Roach
- The pair of anennas is quite small in a beetle than a roach.
A roach can be distinguished from a beetle very easily. So let us dive into the details of all the differences mentioned above.
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1. Wings Structure
The most significant physical difference between a beetle and a cockroach is its wings. Even though all species of roaches don’t have wings, the upper surface is still distinguishable from a beetle.
Beetles have two sets of wings. The one visible when the beetle is in a resting position is a pair of wings completely symmetrical, quite hard, and it protects the other set of underlying wings. This wing pair doesn’t flap when the beetle flies but will help the beetle steer. This set of wings also protects the beetle from other environmental abuses. The forewing is also known as Elytron.
The other pair of hindwings is quite delicate. These are the primary wings responsible for a flight. These wings are identical and symmetrical but like a bird with rigid, leading-edge, and soft trailing edges.
Cockroaches have a pretty different set of wings. A roach will typically have four wings in total, and they sit on top of each other. All four wings are responsible for a cockroach flight. The forewings sit on top with a small portion overlapping (A significant difference). In addition, the forewings are slightly hard than the hindwings. The hindwings of the roach are membranous and delicate.
Additionally, all species of roaches don’t have wings and can’t fly. Similarly, baby roaches are also wingless.
Interesting Read: Why do cockroaches fly towards you?
2. Distinguishable Head
Another feature that makes a beetle quite different from a roach is the formation of its head.
A cockroach has an enlarged pronotum that protects its head. A roach normally hides its head under it. The pronotum normally looks like an extension from the back.
Beetles also have a pronotum, but it’s separate—the head of a beetle sticks out from its pronotum. Since there are more than 400,000 species, it’s tough to generalize all of them, but usually, there are three sets of bumps in a beetle while a roach has two. Learn more about beetles antimony here.
3. Wings symmetry & overlapping
Cockroaches have an overlapping wing structure in a resting state, while beetles have a symmetrical set of hard shell forewings (aka Elytron) covering each half.
4. Complete & Semi Metamorphosis
Beetles are Holometabolic. The life cycle of a beetle varies quite significantly from a roach. Beetles are holometabolic and will undergo a complete metamorphosis. This means a life cycle of a beetle will look as follows.
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult Beetle
Roaches are Hemimetaboli. The life cycle of a beetle varies quite significantly from a roach. Beetles are holometabolic and will undergo a complete metamorphosis. This means a life cycle of a beetle will look as follows.
Egg → Young Nymph → Later Nymph → Adult Roach
5. Antennas’ Length
The length of antennas is also a unique identification mark between a cockroach and a beetle.
Since there are more than 400,000 species of beetles, you can find beetles with antennas longer than usual. But generally, beetles have short antennas with fewer segments.
And there are around 4500 species of cockroaches, but generally, all of them will have antennas longer than or equal to their body length.
Consluion
Theoratically, beetle and cockroaches are a lot different from each other, and you can identify a ton of differences between them.
The five differences I have stated above are the ones you can easily identify by quickly looking at the insect you have spoted.
Additional Read:
