Bug of the Week - Cave Roaches
Meet this week’s featured bug, the giant cave roach! These are one of the world’s largest cockroaches. They are native to South America and can be found in forests and caves. Adults can grow 3 to 4 inches long and have wings that can be used to flutter to the ground if they fall.
Juvenile roaches, called nymphs, look very different from adults. They lack wings and have a rounder appearance. These roaches live in large groups and show slower growth if kept alone.
Like other roaches, they eat rotting food and scavenge anything they can find. They have a preference for sweet items such as fruits.
While these bugs are impressive to look at and fascinating to watch, they can be very fast and skittish. This makes them more of a display insect than an interactive pet for kids. Like other roach species, however, their care is fairly simple and they breed readily.
You can meet giant cave roaches and other cool bugs at our insect parties for kids!
