HISSING COCKROACH
Gromphadorhina portentosa

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION: Hissing cockroaches live in the leaf litter of the forest floors of Madagascar. They are wingless members of the beetle family.

They get their name from the sound made by rapidly expelling air from tiny holes on their body called spiracles when they are alarmed. The noise confuses potential predators into thinking there is a snake around. It also sends a territorial message to other cockroaches.

They are completely harmless vegetarians, feeding on rotting fruit, vegetables and fungi.