Hissing Cockroach
The Madagascar hissing cockroach is all hiss and no sting. Its alarm hiss, which sounds like a loud snake hiss, is the cockroach's attempt to scare off intruders. The male cockroach also uses distinct hisses to attract a mate and to intimidate other male cockroaches.
- Common Name:
- Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
- Scientific Name:
- Gromphadorhina portentosa
- Type:
- Invertebrates
- Group Name:
- Colony
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- 2 to 5 years
- Size:
- 2 to 3 inches long
- Weight:
- Up to 0.8 ounces
When defending their territory from other males, these cockroaches will hiss, push, and shove, and stand on their “toes” to show who's boss. The male that is larger and hisses more usually wins.
It is one of the largest species of cockroach in the world—adults grow to be between two and four inches (5.1 and 10.2 centimeters) long!
With their thick and waxy exoskeletons, Madagascar hissing cockroaches may look like big pests, but they’re actually important to the health of the rain forest. They are detritivores, which means they eat decaying plant material and animal carcasses. They recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.