Talk:Madagascar hissing cockroach

Bold Statement
"They are unable to hurt humans in any way". Perhaps this statement should be modified, it's quite a bold statement. Let's say someone saw one and was so scared, they ran off a cliff and died. OK, that's indirect. But what if the sight of a cockroach scared someone so much they had a heart attack and died. Hmm. OK, I've got a good one. One crawls into a guy's mouth and gets stuck in his throat, causing him to choke and die. There. This proves it's a bad statement. -Jaardon (talk) 21:03, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

i think you have a personal problem with cockroaches, but it's not the place to put your mind. 88.104.238.214 (talk) 16:52, 3 April 2011 (UTC)


 * 88 is missing the point. Jaardon is absolutely right in that such a universal statement is most likely false. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.113.25.252 (talk) 06:07, 13 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Also, while it's true that they do not bite, their thorny legs can actually scratch hard enough to draw blood if they try to escape (especially when handling large males). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:1205:507B:4DE0:218D:EAD4:876:B61C (talk) 13:35, 12 December 2019 (UTC)

Extinction there are many threats of the cockroach when you keep it as apet, but is taking them home making them go extinct? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.48.233.69 (talk) 02:08, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

Info from main Cockroach article
This needs to be dissected, edited and pasted into this article. pschemp | talk 20:07, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) is a large flightless insect from the forests of Madagascar. It lives under the bark of trees or in leaf litter, feeding on plant matter including leaves and fallen fruit. It is an ovoviviparous organism. It is one of the largest cockroaches in the world and can reach 8 cm (3 inches).

Any predator that catches one of these cockroaches is in for a double shock. The legs of this insect are covered in needle-sharp spines and the cockroach can make a loud hissing sound. It does this by forcing air out of the breathing holes that run along the side of its body.

Although they live in the forest, they are attracted by house lights, and will sometimes creep through open windows. However, they are harmless and will soon leave when disturbed. The Madagascar hissing cockroach is often used in television programmes and films where a large scary-looking insect is required. They are frequently used in the television program "Fear Factor" where they are used to scare contestants or they have to be eaten. Because they are flightless, relatively slow-moving, and lack the offensive odor of many other cockroaches, they are sometimes kept as pets. A fad reported in the New York Post is to wear one of these animals on a chain as a decoration. One name for this is called the "Roach Brooch" and the cockroaches are frequently decorated with jewels.

One Madagascan hissing cockroach has the privilege of being the driver of a cockroach-controlled mobile robot.

"Madagascar hissing cockroaches encrusted with Swarovski crystals have been used as necklaces and broaches, costing about $850 each." (i'm pretty sure this was a hoax, FYI.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.209.74.217 (talk) 12:49, 14 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Nope, sadly it is not a hoax, I recall seeing that on the tv news. Hús  ö  nd  14:01, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Can Someone Please Change the Picture
Someone Please Change the Picture to http://www.crossroadsranchandrodeocompany.com/mediac/450_0/media/Madagascar_Hissing_Cockroach03.jpg —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.120.66.56 (talk) 19:21, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

"Wood roach"?
Article says "As in some other wood roaches ..." I just made wood roach redirect to Cryptocercus. The usage of the term "wood roach" for Gromphadorhina portentosa would appear to be a different or wrong usage. Comments? -- Writtenonsand (talk) 21:40, 18 December 2009 (UTC)

Extinction

There are mant threats of this animal when it is a pet, but is taking this creature home making it go extinct? Please answer! I NEED IT FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.48.233.69 (talk) 02:10, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

Extinction

There are many threats for this creature when used as apet, but is taking it home making it go extinct? Shar yuor thoughtS PLZ! I NEED IT FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT!

In this section, yuo could also write a list of threats. Tanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.48.233.69 (talk) 02:13, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

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Any sources on the cockroach neurotoxin?
The line: "Raw cockroaches contain a mild neurotoxin that numbs the mouth and makes it difficult to swallow" does come from the listed source Andrew Zimmern's field guide to exceptionally weird, wild, & wonderful foods : an intrepid eater's digest  but I have been unable to find any other sources for this so far, and a novelty book is probably not the world's best source on the chemical composition of a cockroach. Multilocus (talk) 19:39, 22 March 2020 (UTC)

Edit: a lot of the article seems to come from information in that one book.