Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
Physical Description: Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are brown and oval shaped. Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are 2 to 3 inches long and weigh up to 0.8 ounces. Their exoskeleton is hard, waxy and very thick. Like other insects they have six legs. They do not have wings and they have two antennae. Males also have “horns” on their heads that they use to battle other males. These “horns” are more like large bumps, or tubercles, behind their heads. They are sometimes called prenatal humps. However, like a hoofed mammal with horns they will use the “horns” to push other males around while competing to protect resources.
Habitat: Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches live in lowland, tropical rainforest floors hiding among the dry leaf litter.
Range: They reside on the island of Madagascar.
Diet: They are herbivores. They eat fruits and plant material.
Lifespan: They live 2-3 years in the wild and up to 5 in human care.
Social Structure: When battling, the males emit their distinctive hissing sound, and the winner hisses even louder over his victory. They make the hissing sound by expelling air through their breathing spiracles on their abdomens. Hissing is also part of their mating rituals and is used as a cry of alarm. Most insects make sounds by rubbing body parts together, so making sound via air expulsion is unique to the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in the insect world.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches begin life in an unusual manner. Females create and carry an ootheca, which is a cocoon-like egg casing. They carry this inside their bodies with the eggs and neonatal nymphs. At the right time they give birth to as many as 60 live nymph cockroaches. Nymphs look very similar to adults, but they will shed their exoskeleton six times before becoming an adult, which is about 6 or 7 months. They live in colonies, but males will establish and defend territories within the colony.
Status: Not assessed
Other: These amazing insects are nothing like the cockroaches that inhabit human dwellings. In fact, 99% of cockroach species do not inhabit human dwellings.
Habitat: Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches live in lowland, tropical rainforest floors hiding among the dry leaf litter.
Range: They reside on the island of Madagascar.
Diet: They are herbivores. They eat fruits and plant material.
Lifespan: They live 2-3 years in the wild and up to 5 in human care.
Social Structure: When battling, the males emit their distinctive hissing sound, and the winner hisses even louder over his victory. They make the hissing sound by expelling air through their breathing spiracles on their abdomens. Hissing is also part of their mating rituals and is used as a cry of alarm. Most insects make sounds by rubbing body parts together, so making sound via air expulsion is unique to the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in the insect world.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches begin life in an unusual manner. Females create and carry an ootheca, which is a cocoon-like egg casing. They carry this inside their bodies with the eggs and neonatal nymphs. At the right time they give birth to as many as 60 live nymph cockroaches. Nymphs look very similar to adults, but they will shed their exoskeleton six times before becoming an adult, which is about 6 or 7 months. They live in colonies, but males will establish and defend territories within the colony.
Status: Not assessed
Other: These amazing insects are nothing like the cockroaches that inhabit human dwellings. In fact, 99% of cockroach species do not inhabit human dwellings.
