Welcome! Giant Burrowing Roach, Macropanesthia rhinoceros

On the 10th October 2022, just few days ago, I received one of my dream species. The giant burrowing roach, latin name, Macropanesthia rhinoceros!!

I had ordered a pair of nymphs from Europe but unfortunately, the male did not survive the trip and was dead on arrival.

Macropanesthia rhinoceros female nymph

She is a tiny little thing and me looking at her reminded me of Hagrid looking down at Harry Potter “I brought you here 16 years ago when you were no bigger than a Bowtruckle”…

Macropanesthia rhinoceros female nymph

Before I set her up on her new enclosure, I took the opportunity to grab some initial macro photos for posterity.

Macropanesthia rhinoceros female nymph

Stunning isn’t she?

Since I only have one, I feel she should have an identity. So I decided to name her Plump! Because of her little bootie :D

Macropanesthia rhinoceros female nymph

After the photos, I prepared a 8x8x8cm enclosure, with medium ventilation, 2.5cm of cocofiber mix with peat and a bunch of dried leaves. And I gave it a good spray.

Plump of course wasted no time and immediately went under the substrate and made herself a little cosy chamber.

Plump’s chamber

I also gave her an apple slice but she didn’t seem interested at all.

She is active but not roach active. Reminds me a bit of fossorial tarantulas. I guess I will only be able to see her out and about when she gets hungry, or during specials feedings.

It is good to have a less active roach in contrast to all the fast growing fast moving species that I am keeping!

Well, this is it for this post, I hope you follow me and plump on our adventures together!

She will be loved forever!

Roach love! Cheers and thank you for reading.

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Ergaula cf. silphoides (Nakhon Ratchasima)

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Periplaneta americana “Venom/Bazinga”