Nymphs start out a light tan and become progressively darker until reaching the blackish adult coloration. The underside of the adult females is a light reddish tan. The flightless females produce 15-20 live babies at a time. This recent addition to the hobby is a little smaller than the Madiera cockroach but is similar in over-all shape. The shell or feather pattern on the tegmina is unique.
Females are ovoviviparous.
The adults are not exceptionally active but are able to climb glass if they really want to. Supposedly someone exposed some P.americana to radiation and some mutated into the white-eye. Of course it is an excellent glass climber and lays many ova. Although given the name Australian cockroach, this uncommon household pest actually originated from Africa. This roach is one of the most striking of the pest species and even the nymphs are quite pretty.