Blaberus

Blaberus
Blaberus giganteus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Family:	Blaberidae
Subfamily:	Blaberinae
Genus:	Blaberus Serville, 1831
Species
see text
Synonyms
Blabera Serville, 1838 Libisoca Walker, 1868 Sisapona Walker, 1868

Blaberus is a genus of cockroaches native to the Neotropics. More than 30 species are in the genus, and some of them are popular among hobbyists as pets or as feed for other arthropods (Blaberus discoidalis in particular serves this function). Unlike several genera of cockroaches considered to be pests, this genus keeps its ootheca in its abdomen until the time it hatches. They generally require a relative humidity of 60% or higher to thrive and temperatures above 25 °C (28-30 °C is best) to reproduce.

Blaberus giganteus is one of the world's longest cockroaches. B. craniifer's popular name, "death's head roach" is often attributed to B. discoidalis, as well.

Species

This genus contains these species:

• Blaberus affinis Jurberg, Albuquerque, Rebordoes, Goncalves & Felippe, 1977
• Blaberus anisitsi Brancsik, 1898
• Blaberus asellus (Thunberg, 1826)
• Blaberus atropos (Stoll, 1813) (= "Blaberus fusca")
• Blaberus boliviensis Princis, 1946
• Blaberus brasilianus Saussure, 1864
• Blaberus colosseus (Illiger, 1801)
• Blaberus craniifer Burmeister, 1838
• Blaberus discoidalis Serville, 1839
• Blaberus duckei Jurberg, Albuquerque, Rebordoes, Goncalves & Felippe, 1977
• Blaberus fusiformis Walker, 1868
• Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Blaberus latissimus (Herbst, 1786)
• Blaberus matogrossensis Rocha e Silva & Aguiar, 1977
• Blaberus minor Saussure, 1864
• Blaberus parabolicus Walker, 1868
• Blaberus paulistanus Lopes & de Oliveira, 2000
• Blaberus peruvianus Jurberg, Albuquerque, Rebordoes, Goncalves & Felippe, 1977
• Blaberus scutatus Saussure & Zehntner, 1894