What is the common name for Gromphadorhina portentosa?
Madagascar hissing cockroach
The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), also known as the hissing cockroach or simply hisser, is one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 5 to 7.5 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) at maturity.
What is the classification of a hissing cockroach?
Insects
Madagascar hissing cockroach/Class
Are Madagascar hissing cockroaches asexual?
One interesting aspect of Madagascar hissing cockroach reproduction is the females, to some degree, bear live young, as they are ovoviviparous.
How long does a hissing cockroach live?
2 to 5 years
The nymphs and adults are wingless and can live for 2 to 5 years. There are striking differences between the sexes. Males possess large horns on the pronutum (behind the head), while females have only small ‘bumps’.
Do hissing cockroaches bite?
The natural life of the Madagascar hissing cockroach, or Gromphadorhina portentosa, is not well understood. But in captivity, the insects thrive on dog food and fruit, reproduce plentifully and do not bite. Some people are allergic to the species of cockroaches that are household pests.
Do hissing cockroaches carry disease?
By contrast, the hissing cockroach is not associated with the spread of disease, but like his house-dwelling cousins carry mold spores that trigger allergies or asthma attacks. Teach children not to rub their eyes or nose when handling the insects and have everyone wash their hands immediately afterward.
Why do Madagascar cockroaches hiss?
The Madagascar hissing cockroaches have a really interesting way that they produce this audible hissing noise. Insects in general have openings on the side of their bodies called spiracles. Hissing cockroaches have specially modified spiracles. If they expel air from them quickly, it produces the hissing noise.
Do Madagascar hissing cockroaches bite?
Do hissing cockroaches pee?
However, Malpighian tubules are common to insects, so cockroaches are not unique in this regard. The bottom line: cockroaches don’t pee, but neither do most insects, and what makes roaches special is their bacterially-enhanced nitrogen efficiency.
Can cockroaches scream?
Certainly, seeing a cockroach can elicit high-pitched screams from an unsuspecting homeowner late at night. However, the most common species, the American and German roaches, are generally acknowledged to be silent. This species makes sounds as part of its mating ritual and also to raise alarm.
What kind of habitat does Gromphadorhina portentosa live in?
Gromphadorhina portentosa plays a role in the rainforests of Madagascar by recycling a large amount of decaying plant and animal matter. The mite Androlaelaps schaeferi, formerly Gromphadorholaelaps schaeferi, is a common parasite of this cockroach.
How big does a Gromphadorhina portentosa hissing cockroach get?
Gromphadorhina portentosa Care. The Hissing cockroach is a rather long cockroach (2.5″-3.25″), and is one of the heaviest in the hobby. They are originally from the island of Madagascar off of the East coast of Africa and are a sub-tropical cockroach that enjoys moderate humidity and higher temperatures.
How big are the horns of a Gromphadorhina?
Males possess a pair of large bumps or tubercles behind their head, these structures are much smaller in females. These horns are known as pronatal humps. Gromphadorhina portentosa is one of the largest species of the cockroaches in the world, adults are 5.1 to 10.2 cm long, with males growing larger than females.
What to do if you have a Gromphadorhina portentosa?
A water dish, remember roaches need moisture in either their diet or as a straight water source. You can use water gel or a shallow bowl filled with water and pebbles to keep the roaches from drowning. G. portentosa will eat very little compared to other similarly sized cockroaches.
