Blaptica dubia
| Blaptica dubia | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Family: | Blaberidae |
| Genus: | Blaptica |
| Species: | B. dubia |
| Binomial name | |
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Blaptica dubia Serville, 1838 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Blaptica dubia, the Dubia roach, also known as the orange-spotted cockroach,Guyana spotted cockroach, or Argentinian wood cockroach, is a medium-sized species of cockroach which grows to around 4.0–4.5 cm (1.6–1.8 in). They are sexually dimorphic; adult males have full wings covering their body, while females have only tiny wing stubs, their tegmina (forewings) being around a fourth of their body length.
Adults are dark brown to black with somewhat lighter orange spot/stripe patterning sometimes visible only in bright light. Coloration does differ slightly with environment and diet from one colony to another.
Blaptica dubia are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young, and can give birth to 20 to 40 nymphs per month under favorable conditions.
The Dubia cockroach is found in Central and South America, beginning in Costa Rica. It is common from French Guyana and Brazil to Argentina.
Documented specimens have been found in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
While rarely known to fly, adult males have fully developed wings, and pigmented musculature typical of cockroaches able to meet the rapid energy requirements of sustained flight. In laboratory test launches from a ramp 2.5 m high, adult male B. dubia were able to right their dorso-ventral position and rapidly deploy their wings to control and direct their descent; however, active powered flight did not maintain or increase their altitude. Adult females have only rudimentary forewings and lack the muscles required for flight, and showed no flight control in test launches.
Because they lack developed arolium between their claws, neither adults nor juveniles can climb smooth, vertical surfaces, though juveniles have been known to climb the soft silicone seals in terrariums and the plastic sides of Rubbermaid containers.
Ideal temperature range is the higher end of a 75–95 °F (24–35 °C) range. They will not breed below 68 °F (20 °C). They will not molt successfully if the humidity is too low. Dubia roaches can tolerate lower humidity than many other roach species. This species of roach will also sequester more water in its body when well fed upon fruits and water will be released at times of stress.
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Wikipedia