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Range and Habitat: Native to the Malagasy Republic
of Madagascar, in the deep leaf litter of the tropical rainforest.
Description: Cockroaches are among the most
primitive of insects; their closest relative is the mantis. The
mantis, however, has evolved greatly from its original ancestors
while the cockroach has changed relatively little. The Madagascar
hissing cockroach is one of the few wingless species of roach,
with both the males and females lacking wings. As is characteristic
of roaches, the body is flattened and the legs are long and powerful.
They are one of the largest roaches, with adults ranging from
2 - 3.5 inches and weighing .2 - .8 ounces. Adult males are generally
larger than the females and are of stockier build. Females are
more slender and lack the large bumps on the plate protecting
the head (the dorsal prothorax). Males and females also differ
in color, with the females lacking the yellowish color of the
males. Madagascar hissing cockroaches have chewing mouth parts;
however they do not bite.
Habits And Adaptations: Communication in this
species is varied. The sensitive antennae are used in a radar-like
fashion to investigate surroundings. As in all cockroaches, they
are also very sensitive to vibrations; thus the eyes, though present,
are greatly reduced and play a very small role in communication.
However, it is their excellent chemoreception (odor) that is the
sharpest. For example, the attractant odor produced by one virgin
female is strong enough to attract several hundred males. Hissing
is both defensive and aggressive, used to ward off predators,
in courtship and to claim territory. The hissing noise is produced
by pulsed air streaming through the second abdominal spiracles
(the holes through which the insect breathes). DIET: Cockroaches
are scavengers, with a diet consisting of fallen fruit, vegetation
and decaying organic matter.
Breeding And Maturation: The female does not
lay the eggs, but rather produces eggs in a long, slender, yellowish
egg case (ootheca). The nymphs hatch while inside the case. When
the nymphs are ready to emerge, the female will usually attempt
to hide the egg case, sometimes digging a shallow hole in the
substrate. When the nymphs come out of the case, the female will
remain near them for some time, hissing at anyone who disturbs
them. Up to 40 nymphs can be hatched at a time, but mortality
rates are very high so population growth is relatively slow. Metamorphosis
is incomplete and the nymphs look remarkably similar to the adults
although they are smaller, faster and flatter. Nymphs take about
one year to reach maturity and then may live one year or more
as adults.
Miscellaneous: There are approximately 3,500
known species of cockroaches. Of these, only about one dozen are
known to be pests to humans. The American, German, and Oriental
cockroaches are among those most familiar. Not all cockroaches
are brown; in fact some species are brightly colored. This generally
relates to the habitat in which they live, with the bright green
roaches living in plants instead of on the ground. Th region of
tropical rainforest in which these cockroaches live, which contains
some of the most unique and endangered species found nowhere else
on earth, is threatened more and more each day by ongoing deforestation
that has already claimed more than 90 percent of the Madagascar
rainforests. Madagascar hissing cockroaches have been useful to
humans in a variety of ways. They are a favorite of Hollywood
film writers and have starred in productions such as “BUGS!”
and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” They are
also used frequently in education and research, from grade school
on up to universities, for studies in insect anatomy, social behavior
and chemical communication.
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