Giant burrowing cockroach
| Giant burrowing cockroach | |
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| Species: | M. rhinoceros
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| Macropanesthia rhinoceros Saussure, 1895
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 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (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.
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Further reading
- Jex, A. R.; Schneider, M. A.; Rose, H. A.; Cribb, T. H. (2007). "Local climate aridity influences the distribution of thelastomatoid nematodes of the Australian giant burrowing cockroach". Parasitology. 134 (10): 1401–8. doi:10.1017/S0031182007002727. PMID 17445327.
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- Brown, W.V; Rose, H.A; Lacey, M.J; Wright, K (2000). "The cuticular hydrocarbons of the giant soil-burrowing cockroach Macropanesthia rhinoceros Saussure (Blattodea: Blaberidae: Geoscapheinae): analysis with respect to age, sex and location". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 127 (3): 261–77. doi:10.1016/S0305-0491(00)00212-1. PMID 11126757.
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