Madagascar hissing cockroach
A large, wingless cockroach native to Madagascar that produces hissing sounds by forcing air through breathing openings along its body.
Spiracle: An external opening in an insect’s body wall that connects to its respiratory system. Air forced through these breathing openings produces the cockroach’s hiss.
Cockroach: An insect in the order Blattodea, with a flattened body, long antennae, and chewing mouthparts. The hissing cockroach is a large, wingless member of this insect group.
Animal husbandry: The care, breeding, and management of animals kept by humans. Successful captive colonies depend on appropriate food, moisture, and shelter.
Madagascar: An island country in the Indian Ocean, separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel. The species is native to Madagascar’s forests and other habitats.
Insect respiratory system: A network of spiracles and air-filled tubes that delivers oxygen directly to insect tissues. The cockroach’s hissing uses openings belonging to this respiratory system.
Gromphadorhina: A genus of large cockroaches native to Madagascar that includes the familiar hissing species. The commonly kept Madagascar hissing cockroach belongs to this genus.
Insectarium: A facility or collection devoted to the display and study of living insects. The cockroach is often displayed because it is large, robust, and easy to observe.
Endemism: The condition of a species being native to and restricted to a particular geographic area. The cockroach’s natural range is confined to Madagascar.
Insect stridulation: Sound production by rubbing body parts together, as in crickets and some other insects. Unlike stridulation, this cockroach makes its hiss by expelling air.
Exoskeleton: A rigid external covering that supports and protects an arthropod’s body. Its hard outer shell must be shed for the cockroach to grow.