Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Gromphadorhina portentosa
Habitat:
rainforests, among decaying logs and vegetation on the forest floor
Range:
Madagascar
Activity Cycle:
nocturnal
Features:
They use their antennae to touch and taste. They have thousands of tiny hairs on their legs and feet to help them. Climb up walls with ease. They have an exoskeleton. The male has “horns” on its head and the females head is flat. They have spiracles on their body used to push air out of to make their hissing noise. They go through 6 molts-after the final molt at about 7 months they are sexually mature.
Size:
2 ½ - 4 inches
Social Structure:
they live in large groups- males have territories, females wander in and out of territories. Other males will be pushed out of the territories.
Life Expectancy:
3-4 years
Diet:
decaying fruits and vegetables (Decomposer)
Reproduction:
Females are ovoviparus meaning they give birth to live young. Females produce as many as 30-60 nymphs. They have an incomplete life cycle: egg, nymphs and adult stage. Nymphs stay with their mother for about 6 months after hatching.
Status:
Of little concern in the wild
Interesting Facts:
- There are 3500 different species of cockroaches and 99% of them are not considered pests.
- A cockroach can live up to 9 days without a head
- A cockroach passes gas every 10 minutes
- Cockroaches have changed very little over the past 250 million years
- Communicate with hissing-males use the hiss during fights with other males, courtship and for any disturbance. Females and males only use it during disturbances.
- The hiss is 90 decibels which is equivalent to the sound made by a lawnmower or a hairdryer.
Socialize
