Madagascar hissing cockroach

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Female Madagascar hissing cockroach
(Gromphadorhina portentosa)

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Family:	Blaberidae
Genus:	Gromphadorhina
Species:	portentosa

Binomial name

Gromphadorhina portentosa
(Schaum, 1853)

Hissing roaches kept as pets

The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), also known as Hissing roach or simply Hisser, is one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 2-3 inches at maturity. They are from the island of Madagascar off the African coast, where they can be found in rotting logs.

Unlike most cockroaches, they are wingless (though this is also true of some other wood-dwelling roaches). They are excellent climbers and can easily scale smooth glass. Males can be distinguished from females by their thicker, hairier antennae and the pronounced "horns" on the pronotum. Females carry the ootheca (egg case) internally, and release the young nymphs only after the eggs have hatched. As in some other wood roaches, the parents and offspring will commonly remain in close physical contact for extended periods of time. In captivity, these insects can live 5 years. They feed primarily on various types of vegetable material.

1 Hissing
2 Parasites
3 Popular culture
4 Pets
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Hissing

The Madagascar cockroach has become a popular pet because of its hissing sound, large size and appearance. Their nickname, "hissing cockroach", is due to their ability to force air through the breathing pores (spiracles) found on their abdomen. The Madagascar hissing cockroach is believed to be the only insect that can hiss in this exact manner,^[1] as most insects that make a "hissing" sound do so by rubbing together various body parts. (Some longhorned beetles, e.g., the Giant Fijian long-horned beetle, can squeeze air out from under their elytra, but this does not involve the spiracles). This hiss takes two forms: the disturbance hiss and the fighting hiss. All cockroaches from the fourth instar (fourth molting cycle) and older are capable of the disturbance hiss. Only males use the fighting hiss; they use it when challenged by other males. This results in one of the males backing down and the fight being over. Males hiss more often than females.

[edit] Parasites

The mite species Gromphadorholaelaps schaeferi lives on this species of roach, and takes part in its host's food.

[edit] Popular culture

It has become a popular insect in Hollywood movies, featured prominently in Bug (1975) (as 'roaches who could set fires by rubbing their legs together), and in Damnation Alley (1977) (as post-nuclear-war mutant armor-plated "killer" cockroaches). Also, in Team America: World Police (a 2004 comedy film), a Madagascar hissing cockroach emerged from Kim Jong-Il's body after his death, entered a tiny spaceship, and flew away. Madagascar hissing cockroaches encrusted with Swarovski crystals have been used as necklaces and broaches, costing about $850 each. They have also been used as the driver of a cockroach-controlled mobile robot. [1] It was used in the reality television series Fear Factor. The species also made an appearance in the movie Men In Black in 1997.

In September 2006, amusement park Six Flags Great America announced it would be granting unlimited line-jumping privileges for all rides to anyone who could eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach as part of a Halloween-themed FrightFest. Furthermore, if a contestant managed to beat the previous world record (eating 36 cockroaches in 1 minute), he would receive season passes for four people during the 2007 season. This is a difficult record to break because raw cockroaches contain a mild neurotoxin that numbs the mouth and makes it difficult to swallow. The promotion began on October 7, 2006, and ended on October 29, 2006.

[edit] Pets

Madagascar cockroaches are wingless and therefore cannot fly like some species of roaches, though they can escape from any enclosure that is not completely secure. They are not aggressive and do not bite; they are unable to harm humans in any way. They hide when disturbed. Coconut fiber or bark are the best beddings, and branches, rocks, or pieces of cork bark in their tank to keep them busy climbing.

Keep a heating pad under part of the tank so they can choose the temperature they prefer or keep them in a warm area. Day temperatures should be 82-96°F. Night temperatures should be no lower than 68°F. Roaches that are exposed to lower temperatures become sluggish, so the higher the temperature, the more active the insect. No special lighting is needed.

Fresh vegetables should form the main portion of their diet, and dry dog, cat, or mouse food can be offered occasionally. For water, place a small empty container in their tank and put a soaked sponge in it. This is how they will get their moisture. It is also acceptable to give them water through moist foods such as vegetables or fruits. Oranges are especially useful for this because they do not mold as easily as other fruits. Do not feed any kind of meat; it is not a natural or necessary part of their diet.