Cuban cockroach or dead head in a home insectarium

In the rainforests of America, the family of large cockroaches Blaberus lives. The sizes of adults reach 6-8 cm. A Cuban cockroach entered Europe by sea, along with cane sugar. A distinctive feature of the species is the presence of wings. Adult insects are able to plan in the air. In this way they move to new territories. The unusual appearance of cockroaches and unpretentiousness in care made them popular pets.

The appearance of insects

Cuban cockroaches belong to the family of large tropical cockroaches Blaberidae, the genus Blaberus. They are the most common insects for keeping in home terrariums and breeding feed for reptiles and spiders. Adults are impressive in size. The body length is 60-80 mm. The body is flat, the black head is covered with a light straw pronotum. Elytra dense, wings cream with a transverse brown stripe. The antennae are elongated, the mouth apparatus is gnawing.

Interesting information. On the pronotum there is a black spot with bright points. They fold into a pattern resembling a skull. Due to this feature, cockroaches were called the "dead head".

Larvae look like extinct marine arthropod trilobites. Their carapace is covered with longitudinal grooves. While moving along the forest litter, lumps of earth, leaves and other objects stick to it. They become a disguise for a small insect. This allows him to go unnoticed by predators. Larvae love to bury themselves in the litter. Adults are active in the evening and at night. They climb trees, easily fly from branch to branch. They feed mainly on fallen leaves and fruits, sometimes they eat dead animals. In nature, cockroaches live for about a year, in captivity - 1.5-2 years.

Black blober "dead head"

One type of Cuban cockroach is Blaberuse craniifer black. By its size and shape, it resembles a light fellow, but the wings are almost completely black. On the pronotum, the head pattern is clearly visible. Adult individuals live in the crowns of trees, larvae live in the litter. Insects feed on plant and animal food. When kept at home, a terrarium with a substrate and the creation of certain conditions will be required. Optimum temperature 26-30⁰Humidity is about 60%. Active at dusk, the terrarium is best set in a shaded area.

Habitat bloberus

The birthplace of Blaberuse craniifer is the tropical forests of South and Central America and the islands of Cuba. Cockroaches love heat + 25-28⁰ and humidity from 70%. In temperate latitudes they live in captivity.

Propagation Features

Cuban cockroaches are ovoviviparous species. The offspring is 60-90 days in the ooteca, a special chamber for egg maturation. Males have a peculiar ritual of courtship for females. In order for pheromones secreted by the glands to spread better through the air, they perform wing manipulations. The male sets the elytra perpendicular to the body. The released wings open and form a fan. When you wave them, the smell of the male reaches the female faster.

Attention. The female brings from 22 to 30 larvae.

The offspring has no wings.Larvae reach puberty in six months. As they grow older, they molt several times, dropping the old chitinous shell. The old cover cracks in half and slides. The body becomes soft and unprotected. The white body quickly darkens and hardens, but during this period the insect is very vulnerable.

Conditions for keeping Cuban cockroaches

To keep insects, it is better to choose a spacious terrarium made of glass or plastic. A small amount of cockroaches can be placed in a food container. The size of the cage should be selected in accordance with the number of inhabitants. The recommended size of the house for pets is 54x30x28 cm. In nature, cockroaches live on trees, so for a comfortable existence they put pieces of bark and branches in the house. Birch bark and other deciduous trees are best suited. Before being placed in a container, the wood must be sanitized, for example, with boiling water.

Insects are active, but cannot move along smooth walls. The container is covered with a net, otherwise adults can fly out. Larvae need litter in which they can dig. Sawdust or coconut chips are suitable. Do not use the land. After wetting, a crust forms on the surface, which can damage the chitin shell of the larvae. Together with untreated soil, insects are dangerous for insects.

Tip. Cuban cockroaches feel great among the leaves. They resemble a natural habitat. Before using foliage for bedding, it is necessary to treat it with boiling water.

Insects prefer to hide in the daytime. To do this, they put cardboard boxes. Favorable living conditions - + 22-26⁰C and 50-60% humidity. The required humidity level is maintained by spraying.

The diet includes a large list of products:

• pumpkin;
• cucumbers
• apples
• cabbage;
• carrot;
• boiled meat and eggs.

Tip. As a source of protein, young cockroaches are given dried gammarus 2 times a week.

Food should be varied and fresh. From dry products, insects give flakes Hercules, bread, animal feed. A water drinker for birds can become a source of water. A cockroach can drown in a container of water, in order to avoid this they put capron or cotton wool in it. With a sufficient amount of juicy food, it is not necessary to put a drinker.

Attention. With an excessive number of individuals in the insectarium and a lack of protein food, cannibalism is possible.

The litter is changed once a month, this avoids the appearance of ticks. It is better to remove rotten food immediately so that there is no unpleasant smell and midges.