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Giant Burrowing Cockroach

Macropanesthia rhinoceros

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Field Notes

Description:

Also known as Rhinoceros Cockroach or Giant Litter Bug. Large shiny brown segmented cockroach the largest in the world & native to Australia, adults grow to around 80mm, this one about 60mm, wingless, large spiky legs, lives underground mostly but also forages under leaf litter & mulch feeding on dead leaves, vegetation that is easily accessible on the ground level, mostly associated with tropical regions of Australia, females give birth to live young & this is a species that is often kept as a pet. Males use their head shield to butt each other when fighting over territory or females & they also make a hissing sound.

Habitat:

Usually found in tropical areas of Australia in moist or dry forest. This one in moist leaf & garden litter in high mountain country.

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Photographed
PublishedApril 12, 2014

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