Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
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| Madagascar hissing cockroach | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Gromphadorhinaportentosamale.jpg Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Gromphadorhina portentosa , |
The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) is a large cockroach which is originally from the island of Madagascar off the African coast. The insects are large and wingless. They grow up to 2.5" in length and brown to black in colour. The insect makes a hissing sound for communication. They can live up to two years.
It is a very popular pet because of its hissing sound and large size, and interesting appearance.
Has become a popular insect in Hollywood movies, featured prominently in the horror film "Bug" 1975 (as roaches who could set fires by rubbing their legs together), and in Damnation Alley 1977 (as post-nuclear war mutated, armor-plated. "killer" cockroaches).