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Madagascar Hissing Cockroach: Gromphadorhina portentosa In the Wild Description: Brown-black insect with 6 legs, antennae and no wings Size: About 2.5 inches long Weight: About 40 grams Habitat and Range: Native to the island of Madagascar – are an endemic species (are only found on Madagascar) Live in tropical lowland forests, rainforests Primarily found on the forest floor Diet Detritivores: Eat decaying plant and animal matter; may also eat smaller insects Adaptations Hiss by expelling air through spiracles – holes in the sides of the abdomen o Adult males hiss during aggressive encounters and during courtship and mating o Females and late-stage nymphs hiss only when disturbed or threatened o Hiss is their defense against predators o Hiss can be heard up to 12 feet away Males have “horns” (females may also, but much less pronounced) o Called pronatal humps o Males ram each other when vying for females Defensive stance where they lean to one side on their toes is called “stilting” “Hooked” feet are perfect for climbing Flattened body is good for navigating narrow places Brown coloring provides camouflage Lifespan Typically live 2-5 years Ecosystem relationships Decomposers – help “recycle” and keep waste at a minimum Prey for many animals, including ground-feeding birds, tenrecs (a mammal similar to shrews and hedgehogs but endemic to Madagascar) and arachnids Reproduction Breed year round Females are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young o Gestation lasts about 2 months o Females create an “ootheca,” a cocoon-like egg-case to carry the eggs and neonatal nymphs inside their bodies 1/10/2014 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Madagascar Hissing Cockroach: Gromphadorhina portentosa o May bear up to 60 nymphs Nymphs reach maturity in 5-10 months, or usually after 6 molts Incomplete metamorphosis: egg nymph adult Activity Nocturnal Other “fun facts” 3,000-4,000 species of cockroaches exist 99% of cockroach species, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches, are not considered pests Have no wings and therefore cannot fly Nearest relatives include mantids, grasshoppers, stick insects and termites Known as “living fossils”, these insects are very similar to the prehistoric cockroaches that lived on Earth long before the dinosaurs People eat hissing cockroaches too! o High in protein o Eating insects is called “Entomophagy” Conservation Status and Threats: Not-listed by the IUCN Although they are not endangered, they are an important part of the ecosystem of the rainforest habitat where they live At the Zoo The current group of roaches was first acquired in 2005 and has been added to several times since. What We Can Do Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat – conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution References: Buchsbaum, Ralph. Animals without Backbones. Third ed. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1987. Print. Grzimek, Bernhard. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1972. Print. Insects. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/madagascar-hissing-cockroach. html http://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/Madagascar%20Hissing %20Coc kroach.pdf http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef014.asp 1/10/2014 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore