Blaberus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blaberoidea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Blaberus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Blaberus: /ˈbla.bɛ.rus/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Blaberus craniifer - adult and subadult by Drägüs. Used under a CC0 license.

Blaberus craniifer 0002 L.D by Acrocynus. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Blaberus fg01 by Fritz Geller-Grimm. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Blaberus giganteus (Wroclaw zoo)-3 by Guérin Nicolas (messages). Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Blaberus giganteus (Wroclaw zoo)-1 by Guérin Nicolas (messages). Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Smithsonian miscellaneous collections (1955) (14780232901) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

Summary

Blaberus giganteus, known as the Central American giant cave cockroach or Brazilian cockroach, is one of the largest cockroaches and is endemic to the Neotropics, thriving in moist, dark environments. They are vital scavengers within their ecosystems.

Physical Characteristics

Blaberus giganteus is one of the largest cockroaches in the world, with males reaching lengths of up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) and females up to 10 cm (3.9 in). They have flattened bodies, which are brown with black markings, and a wingspan of around 15 cm (6 in). The males possess paired cerci and tiny hair-like appendages called styli, while females are heavier and less likely to fly.

Identification Tips

Look for large size, flattened brown bodies with black markings, and a pronounced wingspan; males have styling on the last abdominal segment.

Habitat

This species is found in caves and rainforests, preferring areas of high moisture and little light, such as caves, tree hollows, and cracks in rocks.

Distribution

Blaberus giganteus is endemic to the Neotropics, located in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic), Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Diet

A nocturnal omnivore and scavenger, its diet consists mainly of decaying plant material, bat guano, fruits, seeds, and carrion, often associated with bat roosts.

Life Cycle

The lifecycle follows hemimetabolous metamorphosis, consisting of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Lifespans can last up to 20 months, with prolonged nymphal stages possible due to various environmental factors.

Reproduction

Mating involves a sex pheromone released by females to attract males, and male-produced aphrodisiac hormones that encourage female mating. Fertilized eggs are stored in the ootheca and incubated for about 60 days before the female expels the ootheca to allow the nymphs to emerge and feed on it.

Ecosystem Role

As scavengers, they play a role in nutrient recycling in their ecosystems by breaking down decaying organic materials.