Macropanesthia rhinoceros “Giant Burrowing Cockroach”

 

Taxonomy;

Domain: Eukaryota, Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda, Class: Insecta, Order: Blattodea, Family: Blaberidae, Genus: Macropanesthia, Species: M. rhinoceros

Origin;

Native to Australia these are found in tropical and subtropical parts of Queensland. It is commonly found along the coastal stretch between Rockhampton and Cooktown. The cockroach can also be located on the islands of the Whitsundays

Description;

The Giant Burrowing Cockroach as its name suggest is a large cockroach, it is the world largest cockroach weighting around 30-35 grams and measure up to 7.5-8 cm (3.1 in) in length. This species of Cockroach also does not have any wings.

Nymphs are creamy white when born, but soon develop a reddish brown colour. Both adult females and males are dark brown

This species is described by Sydney Institute of TAFE Within there “Husbandry Manual For Giant Burrowing Cockroach”. (2006) https://nswfmpa.org/Husbandry%20Manuals/Published%20Manuals/Invertebrata/Giant%20Burrowing%20Cockroach.pdf 

Diet;

This cockroach feeds on leaf litter and decaying fruits and vegs

Enclosure;

As this is a burrowing species of cockroach the enclosure needs to have a deep layer of substrate, Within the wild they have been known to burrow down to a depth of 1 meter, but there burrows can start at 10cm deep. The Adult Cockroaches can come out of there burrows overnight and wander around for food etc so allowing spare for this behaviour is recommended.

You will need to supply a layer of leaf litter which the roach will drag underground into its burrow

Breeding;

The species is ovoviviparous meaning it has young by means of eggs which hatch internally within the female Cockroach.  The female Giant burrowing cockroach gives birth to her young, and then protect them in her underground burrow, providing them with leaf litter she gathers overnight

 

Author: Mark Goodwin, Bugs & Beyond

Was this helpful?

YesNo

0 / 0