Talk:Madagascar hissing cockroach

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[edit] Info from main Cockroach article

This needs to be dissected, edited and pasted into this article. pschemp | talk 20:07, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) is a large flightless insect from the forests of Madagascar. It lives under the bark of trees or in leaf litter, feeding on plant matter including leaves and fallen fruit. It is an ovoviviparous organism. It is one of the largest cockroaches in the world and can reach 8 cm (3 inches).

Any predator that catches one of these cockroaches is in for a double shock. The legs of this insect are covered in needle-sharp spines and the cockroach can make a loud hissing sound. It does this by forcing air out of the breathing holes that run along the side of its body.

Although they live in the forest, they are attracted by house lights, and will sometimes creep through open windows. However, they are harmless and will soon leave when disturbed. The Madagascar hissing cockroach is often used in television programmes and films where a large scary-looking insect is required. They are frequently used in the television program "Fear Factor" where they are used to scare contestants or they have to be eaten. Because they are flightless, relatively slow-moving, and lack the offensive odor of many other cockroaches, they are sometimes kept as pets. A fad reported in the New York Post is to wear one of these animals on a chain as a decoration. One name for this is called the "Roach Brooch" and the cockroaches are frequently decorated with jewels ^[1].

One Madagascan hissing cockroach has the privilege of being the driver of a cockroach-controlled mobile robot ^[2].