Scientific Classification
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Arthropoda
CLASS: Insecta
ORDER: Blattodea
FAMILY: Blaberidae
GENUS: Gromphadorhina
SPECIES: G. portentosa
Conservation Status
Madagascar hissing cockroaches have a smooth, shiny body with no wings and a single pair of antennae. Even though these insects are wingless, they are great climbers and can even scale a smooth layer of glass with no problem. The females and males look relatively similar; however, males have distinguished horns on the first section of their body and have fuller antennae.
The Madagascar hissing cockroach makes its characteristic hissing noise by forcefully expelling air through their respiratory openings. This is unique as most insects make noise by rubbing body parts together, such as crickets with their legs. They have three distinct hisses; one hiss is for warning, another hiss to attract females, and the third is an aggressive hiss used when fighting. Sometimes, the loudest hiss can determine the winning male in a fight.