Madagascar cockroach: features and maintenance in the terrarium

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are a genus of cockroaches found exclusively in Madagascar. There are about 20 known species of hissing cockroaches; there are very big problems with the taxonomy of most, since it is not clear whether they are a whole species with variations in colors, or different species.

The most striking difference from most cockroaches is the absence of wings at all stages of development. Having excluded the ability to fly, nature gave these cockroaches a durable chitinous shell, as well as a characteristic shield on the cephalothorax, on which males grow horns. And, of course, do not forget about the size - some species can reach nine centimeters. The color of these insects varies from light red to almost black. As a rule, their nymphs are darker than adults and have a more dense build. It is quite easy to distinguish between males and females in most cases. Males, as mentioned earlier, have horns, which are the main difference. But some species lack these horns, making sex determination more difficult. Then you can focus on the last segments of the abdomen; in females they are wider than in males.

Madagascar cockroach: biological features

At the moment, the exact number of species of Madagascar cockroaches is unknown, but it is believed that there are about 20 of them.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) is one of the largest. Its body length is on average about 4-5 cm, but can reach 10 cm. The weight of a cockroach can reach 40 g.

The cockroach has a wide abdomen and a hard chitinous cover. These insects do not have wings.

The color of a cockroach can be different: from light red to dark black. The shade is affected by the age of the insect: the older it is, the lighter it is.

A distinctive feature of the Madagascar cockroach is the absence of wings, and at all stages of development. So they can't fly.

The lifespan of an insect can vary depending on its habitat. In the wild, a cockroach lives for about 1-1.5 years, while in captivity, with proper care, this exotic cockroach can live up to 5 years.

Madagascar cockroaches have pronounced dimorphism: the male has outgrowths on the front upper part of the chitinous cover, in addition, the female has a wider abdomen.

Often the male is also distinguished by the fact that his whiskers are damaged. The reason is that during the fight for a female, males break their mustache, and females usually have intact mustaches.

Breeding frequency

The fertility of females also depends on the species. From 15 to 60 eggs are formed in the uterus. A cockroach can give birth to all of them at once, but during the molting process, half die, and the strongest survive. Prussians have the largest brood. In a month they can multiply at tremendous speed.

Ootheca

Interesting!

During its entire life, the cockroach queen reproduces from 60 to 90 ootheca. One cockroach can give birth to 300 children.

Lifestyle of the Madagascar cockroach

This species, like others, is quite shy. During the daytime, insects hide in secluded corners, and at night they crawl out of their shelters and go in search of food.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is large and has no venom, so it is often food for birds and animals.

When a potential threat appears, the cockroach sits motionless. But even if it is noticed, it is not so easy to grab the insect due to its smooth and slippery shell.

As a defense against enemies, the male makes a hissing sound similar to the hiss of a snake. This method is quite effective, since animals that hunt insects are usually small in size and sometimes become prey for snakes.

Madagascar cockroaches hiss using spiracles, organs located on the surface of their body. The hissing sound is produced due to the fact that the insect forcefully exhales air through the respiratory openings (stigmas).

Why do people keep large insects at home?

There are two types of owners of the Madagascar cockroach, the first one keeps it as a pet, the second one keeps it as food for its pet. They often become food for spiders and lizards, parrots and crows; it is quite expensive to buy such food for your pets; it is much cheaper to breed it yourself at home.

Regarding those who keep them as pets, there is nothing strange or scary about this. Many can condemn, twist at their temples and say how crazy this idea is, and here you can argue with such people endlessly.

1. The first argument in favor is that it is an exotic pet; after all, they have spiders, lizards, and snakes, then why are cockroaches so scary? They are much safer and nicer.
2. The second is easy care. Not everyone can afford to walk their dog at least 2 times a day. Many people go on business trips, and then there can be no talk about pets at all, but that’s what they want.
3. The third is love for animals. Where is it written that you can only love fluffy and cute animals? If a person is ready to create ideal living conditions and share his love and care, then why condemn it.

How do Madagascar cockroaches reproduce?

Males fight for the female and hiss at each other during the battle. If one male is tired and wants to give up, he rolls over on his back, admitting defeat.

The winning male then fertilizes the female. She can lay about 20-25 eggs at a time.

The female bears offspring in the ooteca located inside the abdomen. Periodically, the female pushes it out to air the eggs. The peculiarity of bearing offspring of the Madagascar cockroach differs from other species of the cockroach suborder, since in other representatives of the suborder the females shed the ooteca long before the appearance of the larvae.

The gestation period may vary, but on average it is about two months. The larvae hatch from eggs directly in the female's abdomen and crawl out along with the remains of the ootheca. Newborn nymphs weigh less than a gram and have a body length of about 3-4 mm.

After hatching, the larvae of the Madagascar cockroach eat the ootheca and gradually darken. Throughout their growth, the larvae do not leave their mother, who protects them from enemies with a loud hiss.

The nymph molts 6 times during its growth, gradually becoming darker. During the period of maturation, it increases in size, the chitinous layer becomes too small for the nymph and cracks, and a soft shell remains under it. After each molt, the nymph eats the old chitinous layer.

The duration of the nymph stage also varies and lasts about 6-12 months.

Shedding

Molting of a Madagascar cockroach

Madagascar cockroaches tend to shed, but they shed not their fur, but their shell. In the intervals, the nymphs grow up. The surface cover has 10 segmental armored areas, articulated with each other by softer tissue. A breakthrough forms along the back, involving the three initial segments. New, not yet formed chitin peeks through the hole. Gradually the crack grows, bending the cockroach's back. The new body thus begins to protrude outward. Then a head with black markings-eyes appears. Only at this time can you look at them carefully. Usually they are hidden. Whiskers and paws extend later.

The abdomen remains in the shell the longest. Before the last jerk, the cockroach takes a break. The hatched body looks unnaturally elongated, with rounded proportions. 30 minutes after the completion of molting, the appearance of the insect changes: the peritoneum is retracted, intersegmental folds are smoothed out, and the body is shortened. It expands and becomes flat. The entire procedure takes about 40 minutes.

After molting, cockroaches begin to eat the shed shell. Thus, they strengthen the new shell. The color changes before our eyes: first it acquires a grayish tint, then dark brown. The next day, the moulted individual is no longer different from the others.

Is the Madagascar cockroach dangerous for humans?

Despite its terrifying appearance and impressive size, the Madagascar cockroach is harmless to humans.

Cockroaches do not bite people; they have no poison. Unlike red and black cockroaches, Madagascar cockroaches do not carry any diseases.

What is the purpose of maintaining a house?

A pet is considered ideal for those who appreciate the exotic, so its unpretentious keeping is suitable for such people. First of all, it is better to get one for those who do not have an aversion to insects, but like to have fun with them. For several years, the cockroach will delight its owners.

Cockroaches do not bite and do not carry infectious diseases, so they can be safely bred by a family raising a small child. An excellent advantage is the cleanliness of the insect and the absence of odor from it. For those who love cleanliness and order, the Madagascar cockroach is more suitable than other pets that are usually kept in the house.

Lovers of dietary dishes and natural protein foods can breed cockroaches for themselves to use as food. There are special recipes for cooking insects.

Madagascar hissing cockroach: keeping at home

Most people prefer to keep cats or dogs in the house. They have soft fur, you can pet such animals and lie next to them.

But there are also those who prefer to have more exotic pets, including snakes, spiders, lizards and even cockroaches.

Keeping cockroaches in the house has its advantages: they will not damage the furniture in the house, there is no smell from insects in the house, and guests may not notice them at all.

But Madagascar cockroaches are not always bred as pets; sometimes they are raised to later be used to feed other pets: snakes, lizards or spiders.

Madagascar cockroaches are food not only for animals, but also for people. In some countries they are considered a tasty delicacy and are eaten along with chicken and veal. In particular, cockroach is included in the menu of Thai cuisine.

The cockroach does not contain fat and is rich in protein; there is more of it in the insect than in chicken or veal.

Buying exotic insects is not a problem: Madagascar hissing cockroaches can be purchased at a bird market, in a pet store or in an online store.

In general, cockroaches are unpretentious creatures, but caring for them has its own characteristics.

Terrarium for Madagascar cockroaches

The choice of terrariums for cockroaches is huge, so you need to choose an option based on the number of insects, free space and personal preferences.

If you plan to have a couple of cockroaches, then a three-liter jar will be enough. For a small colony (30 pieces), a 20x30x40 cm terrarium is suitable. You can also use an aquarium and even a food container, but then you need to remember to make holes in it for air to enter.

The terrarium can be with or without a lid. In the first case, you need to make small holes for air, and in the second, lubricate the walls with Vaseline so that the nymphs of the Madagascar cockroach cannot escape. Adults will not be able to get out of the terrarium in any case, but young animals are able to move along vertical surfaces.

As mentioned earlier, the Madagascar cockroach is predominantly nocturnal, so the more hiding places there are in the terrarium, the better.

To decorate a terrarium, it is not necessary to buy special parts from pet stores; you can create a cozy home for exotic pets using scrap materials.

For example, egg trays are a popular option. They can be used to make “multi-story” houses with deep compartments where you can hide.

Another popular and affordable material is toilet paper rolls and other similar cardboard cylinders (paper towels, chips, etc.). They can be used to build tunnels through which cockroaches can move.

To decorate the terrarium, they also use wooden slabs, which are fastened parallel to each other, and the space between them is filled with fragments of pottery.

Insects love woody smells, so driftwood, pieces of bark or branches would be an excellent option for a terrarium with Madagascar cockroaches.

Bedding in a terrarium for Madagascar cockroaches

At the bottom of the terrarium you need to put a 3-4 cm layer of bedding. As already mentioned, cockroaches prefer the strong aroma of wood, so sawdust is perfect as bedding. It is recommended to mix them with sand.

It is better to use sawdust from deciduous trees; coniferous trees contain essential oils that are harmful to the health of cockroaches.

An easy way to get sawdust is to buy compressed sawdust cat litter. You can easily find this at any pet store.

You can also use granular rodent litter, coconut substrate, napkins, and cardboard.

The litter needs to be changed approximately every 3-4 weeks.

Temperature conditions in a terrarium with Madagascar cockroaches

For the exotic Madagascar cockroach, the optimal temperature is from +18°C to +30°C, otherwise it will not reproduce.

Air humidity in a terrarium with Madagascar cockroaches

The optimal humidity level is 65%. But maintaining such humidity is not so easy. Madagascar cockroaches will feel quite comfortable if you spray the walls and bedding with hot water from a regular spray bottle once a week. The water will evaporate and turn into a warm mist - these are excellent conditions for the insect.

But be careful, excess moisture will lead to rotting of the litter, and parasites may also appear in the terrarium.

Another simple option to create a suitable humidity level is to place jars of warm water. Their necks need to be wrapped with gauze so that cockroaches cannot get into the water, because if they get there, they will probably drown.

Drinking bowl for Madagascar cockroaches

In the wild, Madagascar hissing cockroaches obtain water from juicy fruits and also drink dew. In captivity they need to make a drinking bowl. To make it, you need to take a shallow tray, fill it with water, and put cotton wool on the bottom. Thanks to it, insects will not drown.

Another option for making a drinking bowl is to take a foam sponge or sponge and wet it. You need to make sure it is always wet.

What to feed Madagascar cockroaches?

This type of cockroach, like others, is omnivorous. In the wild, they prefer rotten fruits or leaves.

At home, you can feed them almost everything:

• bread;
• fresh vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, celery, lettuce);
• fresh fruits (bananas, apples, pears);
• dandelion flowers and leaves;
• boiled porridge without salt (rolled oats, buckwheat);
• food for fish (daphnia).

Some believe that cockroaches need animal protein, so they feed them boiled meat, cottage cheese, eggs, and diet sausage.

It is not recommended to give food for cats and dogs to Madagascar cockroaches, as it may contain insecticides that are dangerous to insects.

There are cannibals among cockroaches, so make sure that the insects have enough food, and also change their diet periodically. In addition, cockroaches, like other living beings, have their own food preferences: they can eat some things quickly, but not others.

Behavior, nutrition, habits

They hiss when they are worried or alarmed. The sound is produced when air is forced out of the gap in the abdomen. The hissing is very loud and plays an important role in the hierarchy of colonies, courtship, and communication.

It is used to communicate with the rest of the colony, as well as to threaten and warn off predators. Males are particularly aggressive, remaining in their colonies for several months to protect them from harm.

Madagascar cockroaches are not picky eaters. They can be fed fruits and vegetables. Cockroaches even eat porridge and boiled eggs. They especially love bananas, apples and carrots. They need calcium to strengthen their shell. But feeding cockroaches with dog and cat food is not recommended. Additionally, in the terrarium you can organize a drinking bowl in the form of a sponge soaked in water, but placing a container with water is strictly prohibited. Cockroaches will definitely drown in it. There must be food in the terrarium all the time, otherwise the insects will eat each other.

Appearance

This species is on the list of the largest cockroaches. The largest representative reaches a size of 6-10 cm. Females are always larger. The body of the imago is colored light brown, dark brown, almost black. Divided into segments. Nymphs differ from adults in body size and darker color. Otherwise they look identical.

Long whiskers on the head are pheromone receptors. Peculiar antennas help to navigate in space, find food, and the opposite sex. The sense of smell is well developed. They can hiss. A photo of the Madagascar cockroach is presented below.

Okapi

The okapi (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), or forest giraffe, lives in the forests of the Congo. This animal is very rare, and the story of its discovery is one of the most notorious zoological sensations of the 20th century.

There is a sad donkey in front, a zebra in the back, and overall a forest giraffe. Okapi has such a long (up to 35 cm) tongue that it can clean its ears with it. The coloring is also very unusual: the body is reddish-brown, the legs are white with dark transverse stripes on the thighs; the tail ends in a tassel.

Zebu

Zebu (Bos taurus indicus) is a humpbacked bull native to Southeast Asia. This is the most ancient and mysterious representative of bovid ungulates. Scientists around the world are puzzling over its origin. The unusual animal has a high, prominent hump on its back and short, widely spaced horns.

The health of humpbacked bulls is excellent: they easily tolerate diseases that kill cattle of other breeds. Domesticated zebu are mainly used as draft and pack animals, and in some places in Southeast Asia, zebu racing is very popular. Of course, a humpbacked bull is not nearly as graceful as a thoroughbred horse, but it can compete with any racer.

Structure

Cockroaches have the same body structure as other insects: three body segments (head, thorax and abdomen), six legs, two pairs of wings, two antennae and two eyes. In some species, the wings are underdeveloped and cannot be used for flight. Others have wings of normal length, but still cannot fly.

Typically, the head of cockroaches is turned down and covered from behind by their shield (in fact, this is an extension of the chest that reaches the head). In most species, the head is not visible when viewed from above.

Distribution area

The American cockroach is widespread in its homeland - Africa and the countries of North and South America. Recently, it has become increasingly noticed in Europe, but in Russia it has been replaced by the Prussian, which is more adapted to life in urban conditions. In this regard, the large size and large number of offspring played a bad joke on the American immigrant.

In order to feed numerous voracious offspring, you will need supplies larger than those stored in an ordinary typical apartment, and the harsh climate of mid-latitudes does not allow you to settle in garbage cans, always full of food. And it’s much more difficult for a big American to hide than for a Prussian midget.

As a rule, insects of this species inhabit large heated industrial buildings with an extensive ventilation system, sewers, and food plants. In their homeland, they settle not far from human habitation, feeding on the remains of civilization waste.

What to do if a lot of small black individuals appear in the apartment

Young insects are often much easier to kill than adults. This is due to the fact that pests at the initial stage of development are not yet covered with a hard shell. They shed periodically, and the cuticle becomes softer and more susceptible to negative external factors, including mechanical stress and chemicals.

Moreover, it is recommended to remove them before entering the adult stage. If this is not done, the small insects will mature, 1-1.5 weeks after the last molt, they will begin to mate and make new clutches.

Black cockroaches appear the same way as red ones.

Folk ways of getting rid of uninvited “guests”

Such methods are effective when fighting small groups of cockroaches that have managed to appear in a person’s home. They can no longer cope with many pests. However, traditional methods are also often used to prevent infection of an apartment. The most effective means at hand are presented in the table.

Folk remedy for fighting cockroaches

We poison with chemicals

If there are quite a lot of small cockroaches at home, then you can no longer use improvised means. More effective insecticide-based preparations will be needed:

• Battalion commander This is an aerosol containing 2 active substances (pyrethroid class). When spraying, you can get rid of insects that cannot be seen - they are located in small crevices. Treatment of such areas is carried out thanks to a thin nozzle, which comes complete with the cylinder.
• Raptor. This is another pyrethroid-based aerosol product. This class of insecticides includes nerve agents. The product is odorless and contains an amplifier of the main toxic substances.

• Clean house. Release form: powder. The composition includes insecticides of the pyrethrodia group (2 different substances) and organophosphate. This increases the efficiency of treatment and prevents the development of resistance.
• Karbofos – concentrate. Contains malathion, a substance of the organophosphate class, characterized by a prolonged action.
• Mashenka. This drug is in solid form (pencil), inexpensive, easy to use, but does not last long. It is used for barrier protection at home.

Some examples of aerosols for controlling cockroaches

Safety rules when processing at home. Pregnant women, children, pets

When insecticide-based products are used, there is a risk of poisoning, since toxic substances are released into the air and remain on all surfaces, objects, and things. To protect yourself from danger, adhere to the following rules:

• processing is carried out in masks, and even better - in respirators;
• when working with liquid concentrates and aerosols, wear closed clothing and a hat so that as little poison as possible gets on the body;

• all procedures are performed with rubber gloves;
• after finishing work you need to take a shower;
• The mouth and eyes should be rinsed with water.

They are not allowed in until the floor has been washed and the main surfaces have been cleared of poison. The procedure for treating a room against insects should not be carried out by pregnant women.

Sanitation of the premises

We combine methods of influencing adults, larvae and their eggs

The most effective method of destroying pests at any stage of development is combined treatment. In this case, various types of drugs and folk remedies are used simultaneously or sequentially. But not all of them destroy cockroach eggs. To prevent the appearance of offspring from ootheca, a steam generator is additionally used.

Types of professional steam generators

Preventive measures

As preventive measures against the spread of cockroaches in the home, it is recommended to use the following recommendations:

• Maintain perfect cleanliness in the kitchen and in the apartment as a whole. There should be no crumbs on the tables and floors, and greasy deposits on the walls. The trash can should be taken out in a timely manner, without putting it off until tomorrow.
• Store seasonings in glass, hermetically sealed containers.
• Wash dishes and sinks promptly.
• Do not leave containers with prepared food or grocery bags open.
• Cover the air vents with a grill or fine mesh.
• Cockroaches can live for several weeks without a head, which has been confirmed by repeated experiments.
• Many species can fly (the synanthropic American or Lapland cockroach).
• Whiskered insects may not breathe for 40 minutes. This property contributes to the retention of water available in the body when it is impossible to replenish it.

Parthenogenesis

Suriname cockroaches are unusual in that they reproduce using parthenogenesis, a form of reproduction in which embryos develop from unfertilized eggs. The offspring of Pycnoscelus surinamensis consists almost entirely of female clones.

Facultative parthenogenesis in conditions of isolation of females and males occurs in several species of cockroaches, including common synanthropes Blatta orientalis, Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, but for Pycnoscelus surinamensis parthenogenesis is the only method of reproduction. Previously, it was believed that Suriname cockroaches are capable of reproducing in both ways - both through parthenogenesis and with the participation of males in the reproduction of offspring.

Pycnoscelus surinamensis rarely gives birth to males: a few males were recorded in the observed Australian colony, and not a single male was recorded in the Florida colony in 15 years of study of the species. Their frequency of occurrence varies, suggesting that it is likely that the Australian colony adopted parthenogenesis later than the Florida colony.

In Pycnoscelus surinamensis there are at least 21 diploid clones born independently of females fertilized by males. This means a repeated transition from conventional reproduction with fertilization to parthenogenesis. There are also 11 triploid clones obtained by backcrossing between clones and individuals of the closely related species Pycnoscelus indicus. Throughout the species' range, the population consists of different clones: for example, in the United States alone there are ten populations of different clones.

Obligate parthenogenesis was only known in Pycnoscelus surinamensis until 2003, when it was discovered in Phyllodromica subaptera. Parthenogenetic representatives of Phyllodromica subaptera, distributed in most Mediterranean countries, are morphologically indistinguishable from representatives that reproduce by fertilization and are found only in the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting a recent acquisition of this feature.

Zoo "Cobra Mobras"

ETNOMIR, Kaluga region, Borovsky district, Petrovo village

The “Cobra-mobra” zoo is located in the ethnographic park-museum “ETNOMIR” between the husky nursery and the EthnoFarm. From the western end of the hut, charming and always positive meerkats greet guests through the window. Inside there are about 30 species of large invertebrates and small vertebrates from all over the world. Animals are specially selected and prepared for safe contact with people. Guests interact with the zoo’s pets during the unique one-hour program “Give a Paw to a Friend.” The program is hosted by Andrey Zatoka, a zoologist with 40 years of experience in scientific and educational activities. The program is full of interesting facts, and guests will learn a lot of new things both about exotic pets from distant countries and about ordinary representatives of our fauna. The program is designed for families with children over 3 years old, and is also popular among school groups of up to 20 people. As elsewhere in ETNOMIR, photography and video shooting are allowed, and guests can take impressive pictures as a souvenir.

Mating process

Reproduction of Madagascar cockroaches begins in the spring. Males hiss and whistle to attract a female. If several males claim a female, then battles between rivals occur.

They push with their bellies, trying to push the enemy as far as possible. Cockroaches fight with projections on the head shield and bite off each other's antennae. The winner gets the female.

It is recommended to place coconut substrate in a container with a pregnant female. It retains moisture well. Under comfortable conditions, cubs appear 55 days after mating and fertilization.

If the microclimate in the terrarium does not correspond to the norm, then the development of embryos is delayed. Pregnancy can last up to 77 days.

When the young are fully developed, they gnaw through the ootheca. The female Madagascar cockroach opens the genital slit in the abdomen and releases the young. She tenses her abdominal muscles, pushing out the babies.

How to make and decorate an eternal mini-terrarium from a light bulb?

Terrariums made from light bulbs look original and stylish. The most common light bulbs of different sizes are suitable for making such a terrarium. To begin with, we recommend trying to work with the largest light bulb.

You will need:

• Large light bulb;
• Screwdriver;
• Round nose pliers;
• Scissors;
• Long tweezers.

Be sure to protect your eyes with goggles, as pieces of glass may fly off during operation.

Step-by-step production:

1. Remove the metal seal on the light bulb base.
2. Then use a screwdriver to very carefully break the internal parts of the light bulb.
3. Using long tweezers, remove the “entrails”.
4. Finish the hole well with a screwdriver so that there are no sharp edges.
5. To stabilize the light bulb, make legs by adding 2-4 drops of silicone glue.
6. Now pour sand and dry moss through the funnel and place the plants using long tweezers.
7. You can use small pebbles and plastic figures as decoration.
8. A mini-terrarium made from a light bulb can be placed on a stand. This will make it even more impressive.

Mini terrarium in a light bulb