3 new species of roaches

[Takumaku]

Luckily, the packaged arrived before tropical storm Ernesto did.

First specie, Polyphaga aegyptica -- egyptian desert roach. A really cool roach to work with. They look like really big ticks right now. I know it's a bad description, but it was my first impression.

Second specie, Byrsotria Fumigata -- cuban burrowing roach (http://www.blaberus.com/FORMgallery1.htm#ByrsotriaFumigata)

Third and final, Archimandrita tesselata -- peppered roach (http://www.blaberus.com/FORMgallery1.htm#ArchimandritaTesselata)

 

[NrthCstInverts]

Congrats on the new "kids"!! god choices mes thinks.

 

[Tleilaxu]

LOL I could catch you some of those when I go to FLA. That glowspot looks really cool! Does it actually glow?

 

[IguanaMama]

I ordered some Polyphaga aegyptica, can't wait to get them. Congratulations on your new pets!

 

[Takumaku]

I ordered some Polyphaga aegyptica, can't wait to get them. Congratulations on your new pets!

Good luck with them. Mine are 3 months old and are only a 1/4". They grow extremely slow, which is something I like.

LOL I could catch you some of those when I go to FLA. That glowspot looks really cool! Does it actually glow?

You must be talking about Byrsotria Fumigata since this is the only specie that might be found in Florida. Heck, I could always use some more especially when they're free. ^_^

 

[Vys]

Hey,

Nice additions!
Regarding the Polyphaga, how do you keep them? I have queried before regarding their habitat conditions, but not received so many replies.

I keep my Polyphaga (from Armenia) on peat mixed with sand and ..the stuff that finally becomes loam. I don't know how they are faring, however..I've seen some deaths, but I've also seen some about centimeterlong oval red shapes; some ort of small egg sacks? I honestly don't know if these produce live young?

Additionally, they are supposed to be parthenogenetic? I'm pretty certain I have both adult males and females though..this may not be as contradictionary as it spontaneously seems , however; I'm not exactly a biologist

One thing that is certain is that they don't dig vegetables one bit

 

[Takumaku]

Certain species of Polyphaga are be parthenogenetic, but P. aegyptica are not. P. aegyptica are egg layers.

Right now I'm keeping my p. aegyptica on basic top soil (no fertilizer) with rotten wood and boiled tea leaves (i.e. peppermint from my garden) for food. They appear to be eating both of them which makes since given that I've been informed that aegyptica is a leaf litter roach. Only time and more research will tell if I'm correct.

 

[Vys]

Yes, I've heard that fallen leaves may suit them well; but I'm afraid what exactly that will do for the potential of a rapidly-spreading carpet of mold?

Leaf-litter, heh, and on the three or so pictures you find of them on the web, they're on what appears to be gravel, or sand :/ I don't doubt you, though.

Egg-layers, you say? So they must be ovoviviparous in order to be parthenogenetic?
Anyway, I'd like to know if my roaches' apparent ootheca are ootheca, so if there are any pictures..


As for food, mine only seem to like stuff like bran flakes, weetabix, and cat food.

 

[bugmankeith]

Yeah do the glow spot roaches spots really glow?

 

[Takumaku]

Yes, I've heard that fallen leaves may suit them well; but I'm afraid what exactly that will do for the potential of a rapidly-spreading carpet of mold?

Leaf-litter, heh, and on the three or so pictures you find of them on the web, they're on what appears to be gravel, or sand :/ I don't doubt you, though.

Egg-layers, you say? So they must be ovoviviparous in order to be parthenogenetic?
Anyway, I'd like to know if my roaches' apparent ootheca are ootheca, so if there are any pictures..

My brain was thinking faster than my hands could type. From my limited research, Polyphaga aegyptica are oviparous {think turkistan roach} (i.e. egg layers with little or no development within the mother) unlike ovoviviparous {think dubia roach} (i.e. egg layers that keep the eggs up until they hatch or about to hatch).

See the link below to ootheca of this specie.
http://www.blaberus.com/FORMgallery1.htm#PolyphagaAegyptica

 

[Vys]

I was looking for that picture : ) Thanks. I wonder if he seriously kept the roaches on that substrate

At any rate, that looks mostly like what I found. (http://files.upl.silentwhisper.net/upload3/Hm-xbf.jpg)
We'll see if they manage to develop.

Still don't know why a parthenogenetic population would have males and females, though.

 

[Takumaku]

because Polyphaga aegyptica are not parthenogenetic. Other species of Polyphaga are (I think you have Polyphaga saussurei or Polyphaga obscura), but aegyptica are not.

 

[Vys]

I failed to find any reference to only some species of Polyphaga being parthenogenetic?

At any rate, the question would still remain as to why a parthenogenetic species would have males and females. But then, I'm not entirely sure that mine are..

 

[bugmankeith]

Nobody answered my question, do the glow spot roaches spots glow?