Emerald cockroach

Come observe the emerald cockroach in the Tête-à-tête room at the Insectarium.

The emerald cockroach lives in the tropical forests of southwest China and northern Vietnam. The nymphs and adult females of this cockroach are coppery, greenish or bluish in color. These iridescent colors glow when exposed to light. Adult males are rather dark.

Unlike most cockroaches, active during the night, this one is more diurnal.

Reproduction

After mating, the female produces eggs in an ootheca that she carries in her abdomen for 6 months. She then expels between 12 and 18 offspring.

During the early larval stages, the nymphs cluster together under the mother’s body, which affords them good protection.

Differences between females and males

Females are wide and wingless, a characteristic of juveniles that they retain into adulthood.

Males, meanwhile, are slimmer and equipped with fully developed dark wings.

Egg incubation: 6 months

Lifespan: male: up to 3 months
female: up to 2 years