Giant burrowing cockroach: Difference between revisions

Giant burrowing cockroach
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Family:	Blaberidae
Genus:	Macropanesthia
Species:	M. rhinoceros
Binomial name
	Macropanesthia rhinoceros; Saussure, 1895

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Revision as of 15:06, 26 July 2011

The giant burrowing cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) is also known as the rhinoceros cockroach and litter bug (the latter name may be misleading, as cockroaches are not true bugs). They are native to Australia and mostly found in tropical parts of Queensland. They are the world's heaviest species of cockroach (although Blaberus giganteus is the longest) and can weigh up to 35 g (1.2 oz)^[1]^[2] and measure up to 80 mm (3.1 in)^[1] in length. They can live for up to 10 years.^[2] Unlike some other cockroaches, they do not have wings and are not considered pests. The cockroach plays a vital part in the ecosystem by consuming dead leaves, eucalyptus in particular, and recycling other matter. True to their name, they may burrow down in soil to a depth of about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in)^[1] where they make a permanent home. Males and females can be differentiated by the "scoop" on the head; the male has the scoop and the female does not. They grow by shedding their outer shell 12 or 13 times before the cockroach reaches full size. When a cockroach moults it will appear pure white except for the eyes. The species is ovoviviparous.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The rhinoceros cockroach...as a pet?^{[self-published source?]}
^ ^a ^b "Pet facts: giant burrowing cockroaches". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved October 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | binomial = ''Macropanesthia rhinoceros''
 | binomial_authority = [[Henri Louis Frederic de Saussure|Saussure]], 1895
+}}{{Morefootnotes|article|date=July 2011}}
-}}
-The '''giant burrowing [[cockroach]]''' ('''''Macropanesthia rhinoceros''''') is also known as the '''rhinoceros cockroach''' and '''litter bug''' (the latter name may be misleading, as cockroaches are not [[True bug|true bugs]]). They are native to [[Australia]] and mostly found in [[tropical]] parts of [[Queensland]]. They are the world's heaviest species of [[cockroach]] (although ''[[Blaberus giganteus]]'' is the longest) and can weigh up to {{convert|35|g|lk=on|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle">[http://fly.to/cockroaches/  The rhinoceros cockroach...as a pet?]</ref><ref name="petfacts">{{cite web | title=Pet facts: giant burrowing cockroaches | url=http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/facts/cockroach.htm | accessdate=October 2005}}</ref> and measure up to {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle" /> in length. They can live for up to 10 years.<ref name="petfacts" /> Unlike some other cockroaches, they do not have wings and are not considered pests. The cockroach  plays a vital part in the ecosystem by consuming dead leaves, eucalyptus in particular, and recycling other matter. True to their name, they may burrow down in soil to a depth of about {{convert|1|m}}<ref name="triangle" /> where they make a permanent home. Males and females can be differentiated by the "scoop" on the head; the male has the scoop and the female does not. They grow by shedding their outer shell 12 or 13 times before the cockroach reaches full size. When a cockroach [[moult]]s it will appear pure white except for the eyes. The species is [[ovoviviparous]].
+The '''giant burrowing [[cockroach]]''' ('''''Macropanesthia rhinoceros''''') is also known as the '''rhinoceros cockroach''' and '''litter bug''' (the latter name may be misleading, as cockroaches are not [[True bug|true bugs]]). They are native to [[Australia]] and mostly found in [[tropical]] parts of [[Queensland]]. They are the world's heaviest species of [[cockroach]] (although ''[[Blaberus giganteus]]'' is the longest) and can weigh up to {{convert|35|g|lk=on|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle">[http://fly.to/cockroaches/  The rhinoceros cockroach...as a pet?]{{self-published inline}}</ref><ref name="petfacts">{{cite web |title=Pet facts: giant burrowing cockroaches |url=http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/facts/cockroach.htm |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=October 2005}}</ref> and measure up to {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle" /> in length. They can live for up to 10 years.<ref name="petfacts" /> Unlike some other cockroaches, they do not have wings and are not considered pests. The cockroach  plays a vital part in the ecosystem by consuming dead leaves, eucalyptus in particular, and recycling other matter. True to their name, they may burrow down in soil to a depth of about {{convert|1|m}}<ref name="triangle" /> where they make a permanent home. Males and females can be differentiated by the "scoop" on the head; the male has the scoop and the female does not. They grow by shedding their outer shell 12 or 13 times before the cockroach reaches full size. When a cockroach [[moult]]s it will appear pure white except for the eyes. The species is [[ovoviviparous]].
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+==Further reading==
+*{{cite journal |pmid=17445327}}
+*{{cite journal |pmid=17374539}}
+*{{cite journal |pmid=11126757}}
 [[Category:Cockroaches]]