Giant burrowing cockroach 2856658 217773719 2008-06-07T16:38:02Z AtikuX 1690433 {{Taxobox | name = Giant burrowing cockroach | image = Macropanesthia_rhinoceros_01_Pengo.jpg | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Blattodea]] | familia = [[Blaberidae]] | genus = ''[[Macropanesthia]]'' | species = '''''M. rhinoceros''''' | binomial = ''Macropanesthia rhinoceros'' | binomial_authority = [[Henri Louis Frederic de Saussure|Saussure]], 1895 }} The '''giant burrowing cockroach''' ('''''Macropanesthia rhinoceros''''') is also known as the '''rhinoceros cockroach''' and '''litter bug'''. They are native to [[Australia]] and mostly found in [[tropical]] parts of [[Queensland]]. Some people like to keep them as pets and describe them as easy to care for, although they are somewhat difficult to obtain outside of Australia{{Fact|date=January 2008}}. They are the world's heaviest species of cockroach (although not [[Blaberus giganteus|the largest by length]]) and can weigh up to {{convert|35|g|lk=on|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle">[http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/5588/roch.html The rhinoceros cockroach...as a pet?]</ref><ref name="petfacts">{{cite web | title=Pet facts: giant burrowing cockroaches | url=http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/facts/cockroach.htm | accessmonthday=October| accessyear=2005 }}</ref> and measure up to {{convert|80|mm|lk=on|abbr=on}}<ref name="triangle" /> in length. They can live for up to 10 years.<ref name="petfacts" /> Unlike some other cockroaches, they do not have wings and are not considered a pest. The cockroach plays a vital part in the ecosystem by munching on dead leaves and recycling other matter. True to their name, they may burrow down in soil to a depth of about {{convert|1|m|lk=on}}<ref name="triangle" /> where they make a permanent home. The species is [[ovoviviparous]]. ==References== <references /> {{insect-stub}} [[Category:Cockroaches]] [[Category:Insects of Australia]] [[de:Australische Großschabe]]