Brazilian Cockroaches

scientific name

Blaberus giganteus

size

Length: males up to 3 in long, females 4 in, 1.5 in wide

characteristics

Color: shiny light brown fore wings
Body: flat body " 2 pairs of wings
Limbs: long legs with strong muscles

Behavior: nocturnal " group together exhibiting sub-social behavior that varies between territorial and hierarchical, somewhat dependent on population density " emit an aggregation pheromone " male dominance shown by posture and aggressiveness " adult defenses: fly, release offensive odors, kick with sharp spurred legs, hide in cracks " feel vibrations as a dominant sense " eyes not used much " use hind wings for gliding or flying

reproduction/life span

Life span: live 20 mo as adult
Mate. female emits volatile sex pheromone inducing long courtship ritual in males " male raise wings at right angles to abdomen and makes trembling movements with abdomen " males fight over females " females will mate only once
Incubation. about 60 days " incubate 20 eggs at a time internally in ootheca inside a brood pouch
Offspring: nymphs burrow into soil or rotting wood " adult after 8 mo and 7-8 sheddings

diet

Wild: organic detritus including bat guano, rotting wood, fruit, seeds, decomposing vegetation, dead insects and other animals

habitat/range

Habitat: caves, rock crevices, hollow trees, cavities under loose tree bark
Range: Panama to northwest South America, West Indies

other

also called Costa Rica cockroach, Cockroach of the Devine Face, deaths-head cockroach, drummers cockroach " has trapezoidal black patch in center of oval head shield that looks like a human face

note

largest cockroach

oregon zoo exhibit

Amazon

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