Giant burrowing cockroach
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iGiant burrowing cockroach | ||||||||||||||
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Macropanesthia rhinoceros Saussure, 1895 |
The giant burrowing cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) is also known as the rhinoceros cockroach and litter bug. They are native to Australia and mostly found in tropical parts of Queensland. However, some people like to keep them as pets and describe them as easy to care for, although they are somewhat difficult to obtain outside of Australia. They are the world's largest cockroach and can weigh up to 35 grams and measure up to 80 mm. Unlike other cockroaches, they do not have wings and are not considered a pest. The cockroach plays a vital part in the ecosystem by munching on dead leaves and recycling other matter. True to their name, they may burrow down in soil to a depth of one metre where they make a permanent home. Females bear live young instead of laying eggs.
[edit] References
- Pet facts: giant burrowing cockroaches. Retrieved on October, 2005.