| Polyzosteria mitchelli | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Dictyoptera |
| Family: | Blattidae |
| Genus: | Polyzosteria |
| Species: | P. mitchelli |
| Binomial name | |
|
Polyzosteria mitchelli Angas, 1847 |
|
Polyzosteria mitchelli, also known as Mitchell's diurnal cockroach or the Mardi Gras cockroach, is a species of bush cockroach found in Australia. It is a diurnal species and its typical habitat is semi-arid regions of Australia's warm temperate zone.
Polyzosteria mitchelli is a wingless, dorsally-flattened insect. It is typically blue and yellow in colour, and thus is one of the most strikingly coloured Australian cockroaches. It is primarily found in semi-arid areas of Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
P. mitchelli sprays a pungent defensive fluid from glands in its abdomen when disturbed.