Periplaneta

A genus of large cockroaches including several cosmopolitan household pests found wherever food is available, especially in moist protected areas. P. americana (American cockroach), a very large brownish-chestnut species, 30–40 mm long, is probably native to Africa but now universally distributed; P. fuliginosa (the smoky-brown cockroach) is a common household pest in the eastern and southeastern U.S. [peri- + G. planetes, a roamer]

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Peri·pla·ne·ta .per-ə-plə-'nēt-ə n a genus of large cockroaches that includes the American cockroach

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Per·i·pla·ne·ta (per″ĭ-plə-neґtə) [Gr. periplanasthai to wander about] a genus of cockroaches (order Blattaria). P. americaґna is the American cockroach and P. australaґsiae is the Australian cockroach.