Celatoblatta quinquemaculata was described in 1966 by entomologist Peter Johns in his revision of the New Zealand cockroaches.

[1] The Otago alpine cockroach is sister to the subalpine Canterbury species Celatoblatta anisoptera.

The thorax and upper abdomen also have pale brown margins, as do parts of the insect's head (frons, clypeus, and labrum).

[1] Found only in New Zealand, this species is restricted to the alpine zone of mountains in Central Otago.

Living under slabs of schist in an alpine and subalpine habitat, C. quinquemaculata is regularly exposed to temperatures below freezing.