Giant wood roach

En el Zoo

Zoo de insectos

Datos fascinantes

• Many cockroaches today look almost identical to species that existed alongside the dinosaurs.
• They have long lifespans, and can live up to 10 to 12 years, making it one of the longest-living insects in the world.

Características físicas

The females are larger and heavier than the males, and can reach up to 3.9 inches in length. They have massive 6-inch wingspans, considered the widest of any insect group. They have a more flattened, oval body and are translucent golden/tan or light brown. They are known for their shield-like plate located behind the head that features a dark amber and black skull-looking marking.

Hábitat

As strictly outdoor, non-pest insects, they live in tropical lowland rainforests and subtropical biomes, that have a stable canopy that traps moisture and maintains a consistent 75 to 85 degrees, and in particular, live in the walls and floors of tropical caves.

Dieta

In cave dwellings, they feed on fallen bat guano and dead bats, and outside of caves, they eat leaf litter.

Comportamiento social

They are highly social insects that live in tightly knit, multi-generational groups. Within caves, there can be thousands of this species living tightly packed together on the walls and floors. When clustered together, they are able to buffer external temperatures and retain humidity.

Female giant wood roaches are highly selective when it comes to reproduction, evaluating the pheromonal signals and courtship dances of competing males.

Situación en la naturaleza

Least concern