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Project Noah Nature School
Nauphoeta cinerea
A piece of art and a roach in the same bug... The Lobster Roach is about 23-30mm in size. It can climb smooth surfaces. Despite that both males and females have wings the ability to fly is very limited.
It was most likely attracted to the light I had on the balcony at a lodge I was living. Semiurban area, about 200 meter to the Indian Ocean.
The Lobster Roach, has become a well established feeder insect for arachnids and lizards due to their ease of rearing and palatability. They also have a very high meat to shell ratio and live up to one year. This species has a worldwide distribution and was originally named Blatta cinerea in 1789 from specimens taken in Mauritius and was not given its present name Nauphoeta cinerea until 1922. Studies indicate that its native home is East Africa. Movement to other countries would have been no doubt by trading vessels and galleons as early as the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Colonies were identified in Florida, U.S.A in 1952 and were found established in an area of Tampa, Florida where there were mills producing animal feeds. Hence the common name Tampa Cockroach. It was firsty recorded in Australia in 1918 where it is regarded as a ‘semi-domestic’ species, as it is found in out-houses and stores rather than in dwellings. Newly hatched nymphs crawl beneath the female, even under her wings, and remain there for about an hour after hatching.
'Despicable' doesn't make any sense to me dotun55. About 4,500 species and only 4 are regarded by humans as pests. The rest mostly clean up dead leaves, timber, grasses etc.
Despicable critter all the same, Lobster or American cockroach. Extraordinary spotting!
This is insightful descrition. Wish I could see one here, apart from one type we have.
That is cool Keith! Mark R, the wings can get linger and cover the body, but I am not sure if it does that on all specimen. I like your description "rune with legs"... Mac, thank you for your comment, and guess what... We are currently blowing sunshine on you on FB :)
Yup just search allpet roaches forum that's the site name http://www.roachforum.com/
Adarsha B S, you are such a darling with a lot of love for the wonders of the nature :) Thank you very much for your comment.
@ keithp2012, cockroach website Ooo! :) @ Dixie, yep this reach is the natural Belgian Blue of the roach world :P
Yes every little bit of info counts, I'm going to spread the word to all members on my cockroach website
I am happy that you like the roach Keithp2012 :) Is far as my research goes,I can not find any recent reports of findings of this specimen in Mozambique. That is great for us in PN as well...
Great to see a wild specimen, I'm waiting to see a wild hissing cockroach or dubia spotting.
That settles it all! The safest place for this bug to be would be on your cheek dear Dan :) Let me know if you need a hand :P
I was more thinking about the spikes than the guts that would come out, but neither are a great option!
Tina, I think Dan did not want to feel on their feet sticky goo that comes out of the cockroach when it is crushed. That's it, Dan? Craaackt
KarenPuracan, LuisStevens and Sergio Monteiro, thank you for your comments. I had no idea a roach could be this pretty either...
João Burini, Muito obrigada pelo da ID. Eu estou muito feliz por isso!
Dan, since it is a "high meat to shell ratio", It might be a bigger risk of slipping rather than getting stung by the spikes, if you step on it. Lets hope none of us will find out though :P Faredin, lol, sorry for bringing those bad memories up... I hope you slept well anyways...
These one has some artistic patterns looks beautiful. It's genus 'Aptera' but can't check the species now. Will take a look at it later even tough it wakes up the old roach infested dorm memories, terrible experience :)
I have to agree with Sckel on this one. That is a cool but nasty looking bug. Wouldn't want to step on that with bare feet.
Spotted on Aug 14, 2013
Submitted on Aug 20, 2013
