 Among females of the species, the most similar member of the genus is "Parcoblatta uhleriana"; females of both species have wings, but significantly reduced tegmina.Distinguishing characteristics are that female "P. desertae" are generally pale-colored, have elongate subtriangular tegmina, and the edges of their supra-anal plates form a broad, weak triangular shape at the base of their cerci, while female "P. uhleriana" are rust-colored to very dark, have roundly subtriangular tegmina, and the edges of their supra-anal plates converge in a weakly concave fashion.The species is known only in the south-central US state of Texas, in central, south-central, and western parts of the state.