When it comes to beetles and cockroaches, it’s easy to assume that they come from the same family. However, that isn’t true. While they are both insects and share similar appearances, beetles belong to the Coleoptera Order while cockroaches belong to the Blattodea Order.
There are around 4,500 different species of cockroach in the world. While that sounds like a lot, note that there are more than 400,000 species of beetle!
If you are interested in learning about the differences between beetle vs cockroach, this blog post is for you. Here, we will highlight everything you need to know about what differentiates these two insects from each other.
Let’s get started with this cockroach and beetle guide.
Body Shape
First of all, beetles and cockroaches are different in terms of their body shape. With common cockroaches, you will notice that they all have the same body shape, which is narrow, flattened, and ovoid.
On the other hand, beetles are typically thicker (especially around the abdomen). Many species along have longitudinal lines on their body, which cockroaches do not have.
Legs
Both beetles and cockroaches have six legs. There are two legs towards the front of the body and then four more towards the back of the body.
With cockroaches, they have quite long legs that feature visible spikes. These spikes resemble leg hairs and point away from the body. They serve to grip smooth surfaces as well as being used for grooming.
Beetles’ legs are shorter and closer to the body. They also do not feature the spikes you see on cockroaches. Beetles are generally slower than cockroaches as they are more likely to be ground dwellers.
Life Cycle
Cockroaches hatch from eggs that are encased in egg cases. Depending on the species, they will either develop in egg cases or incubate inside female cockroaches, who then give birth to live young. Hatched cockroaches are known as nymphs and are both paler and smaller than adult cockroaches.
On the other hand, beetles develop from larvae (grubs). These larvae are similar in appearance to maggots and other larval insects. You will typically see them around rotting vegetation or on moist earth.
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Beetle vs Cockroach: Understanding the Differences
It’s easy to mistake a beetle for a cockroach and vice-versa. It’s also easy to mistake one or the other for other insects. However, the above information highlights the main differences that will help you to differentiate these insects.
Depending on the species, a cockroach can live as long as 5 years. Beetle lifespan is typically between 10 days and 6 months, depending on the specific type of species.
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