Flight of the cockroach

[bugmankeith]

Ok, myth debunking time.

B. Giganteus do not fly, only flutter their wings and glide.

Not true!

I took my male B. Giganteus outside today, it wasnt too hot and was nearing dusk,perfect time for nocturnal creatures to awake.

I let him get on my finger, and he Flew off my hand, not glided. He was able to fly the whole distance of my yard, and to avoid a cat he flew upwards in the air (started at 2 feet, elevated to 4 feet off the ground), that's certainly not gliding. He was able fly as good as any large moth, and land as good too!

I took my female B.fusca out too, kinda flew but mostly gliding.

So myth debunked, b.giganteus (males at least) can and do fly. Anyone who says they cant either has not tried what I did, or their roach's wings were torn or injured.

Ocassionally he will jump in my tank to reach the screen top also.

 

[OldHag]

What??? NO pictures???? Git over here, I gotta swat you!!

That would be an awesome video!! or picture even!! Thats amazing!

 

[NrthCstInverts]

the males are shaped differently then the heavier females and can fly in limited bursts. The females on the other had.... ive NEVER seen them do anything put control the crash landing into the ground. But like you i have seen males "jump" to the screen and do very limited flight..... course ive never had one fly across the yard... but across the room for sure.

 

[bugmankeith]

I would record it, but it's hard to do with one hand, and to make sure it doesnt fly out of the yard. Nobody will record it for me, they get freaked out by it (my family)

If I find a way I will upload it, the roach almost looked like a fairy flying, because its wings are whitish.

 

[Steven Gielis]

Can they also get in the air from the ground?

 

[bugmankeith]

I'm not sure, cockroaches are usually lazy, so if they did it would take alot of patience keeping one loose and waiting to see if it would try to fly.

I think they need to have a lift-off point, like some beetles do, they climb up a blade of grass or twig, then fly away.

I am going to try and take a video of my roach flying, but this time at the local park, it's a half a mile of open space and grass! I'm going to also see if I can measure the distance of flight, since the field is wide it wont matter if my roach flies diagonal, I can still get an accurate measure.