Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

(Gromphadorhina porteniosa)

Distribution: These cockroaches are found almost anywhere throughout Madagascar, an island off the southeast coast of Africa.  They are not found in the United States.

Description:  Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches are reddish-brown to black in color and grow up to 2-3 inches.  They have a relatively long, flat body with no wings.  Legs are covered in small spines which aid in movement.  Males have 2 “horns” on the top side of the thorax, whereas the female’s thorax is basically smooth. Their long antennae pick up air movements, tastes and smells.

Diet:  Cockroaches are omnivores and eat a variety of live and dead plants and animals.  They are very beneficial decomposers in the natural world.  They are mainly active at night, and have natural predators such as frogs, snakes, birds, and insectivorous mammals.

Other interesting facts: 

These cockroaches create a loud hissing noise by sucking in air and then pushing it out through tiny holes in their thorax.  This intimidating sound scares away any potential intruders.

Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches give birth to live young.

Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches do not fly, bite or sting.

There are more than 4,000 different species of cockroaches in the world which have been around for approximately 300 million years!