Cockroaches of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, with descriptions of three new species (Insecta: Blattodea)

Abstract

Eighteen species of cockroaches are reported to occur on the Galápagos Islands. Five species are endemic and in this paper three of these are described as new species: Chorisoneura cristobalensis Roth, C. carpenteri Roth, and Ischnoptera santacruzensis Roth. Endemic Ischnoptera snodgrasii (McNeill) COMB.NOV. is transferred from Anisopygia, and redescribed. Previous reports of the introduced species Periplaneta brunnea, Nauphoeta cinerea, and Phoetalia pallida could not be confirmed. These species may not have become established or may have become extinct. New records of native or introduced species are given for Holocompsa nitidula, Holocompsa sp., Anaplecta lateralis, Blaberus parabolicus, and Rhyparobia maderae. Of the introduced species, only Periplaneta australasiae, Symploce pallens, and Pycnoscelus surinamensis seem to have invaded native (undisturbed) habitats. The endemic species are partially or wholly flightless. This may not be a result of island life per se, but may be a specialization for life in more homogeneous litter or cave habitats at higher elevations on the islands.