Yellow Bush Cockroach
This is a large animal. Size of this cockroach is hard to estimate. Body without antennae maybe15mm. It was found on our lemon tree, just above the point where I could easily photograph it. It also decided to play hide and seek with me. This is an Australian endemic species from what I read. It is also called Bush Cockroach. I love the vibrant and distinct colouration. What I don't like is its taxonomic confusion. Basionym according to GBIF is Apolyta humerale Tepper, 1893. The same author also seemed to have described Apolyta bicolor, Tepper 1985. Not surprisingly biodiversity data is collected randomly on both taxa. This is why we need taxonomic authority databases feeding into biodiversity collection databases. We have millions of junior synonyms that nobody has a clue what they are. This is why in these days we need molecular data to tidy up the taxonomic mess caused by morphological expertise. We need taxonomic leaders who don't block and slow down research and thereby cut the very branch they are sitting on. It is not a solution to collect data on higher levels and postpone necessary work until one day, funds miraculously appear and may be eaten up by more laymen and expert guess work. Even worse, when someone cleans up, the rest of the scientific community sinks in jealousy, ignores and insults hard and rigorous taxonomic work, resulting in more isolated and soon to be forgotten expertise. Update 7/12/2017: I separated what I believe to be Ellipsidion humerale, and renamed it into Yellow Bush Cockroach, as opposed to the Beautiful Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion australe. I did not double-check any taxonomic changes though.
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