Death’s head cockroach “Blaberus Craniifer”

Taxonomy;

Domain: Eukaryota, Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda, Class: Insecta, Order: Blattodea, Family: Blaberidae, Genus: Blaberus, Species: B. craniifer

Origin;

This cockroach is native to to Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America. They live in the forest floors, hiding in leaf matter and rotting wood.

Description;

This is a large cockroach when it has matured to an adults reaching 3 inches or more. Male and female death’s head roaches look very similar, females are slightly larger with a rounded abdomen. They have jet black wings covering the abdomen and a skull shaped, amber/black coloured marking on the pronotum (top of it’s head)

Please note that there is a difference in patten / colour of the head when compared to the Blaberus discoidalis “false death’s head cockroach”

Nymphs of this species are oval shaped with a dark red/brown colouring

Diet;

This cockroach feeds on leaf litter and fresh fruits and vegs, We have found that they like a small bowl of water or a jelly pot

Enclosure;

These cockroaches are a non-climbing species, they cant climb their glass/plastic tanks to escape, The adult do have wings but they do not fly, They may jump / glide to get our of your way.

The enclosure should have around 3 inches of substrate, as Nymphs will burrow while they are young,  with a good layer of leaf litter, this will also be a food source as-well as hiding spare for the roach. Make sure to supply them multiple pieces of Corkbark.

Temperture should be kept around 29-35C (85-95F), with the humidity about 65-85%.

Breeding;

Death head Cockroaches are slow breeders. Gestation period lasts around 55 to 65 days, then the ootheca is ejected and the larvae free themselves

 

Author: Mark Goodwin, Bugs & Beyond

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