About Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Blaberus giganteus is regarded as one of the largest cockroach species in the world. Males can grow up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in length, while females reach up to 10 cm (3.9 in), though some sources list 9 cm (3.5 in) as the maximum female length. These cockroaches have lightly built, flattened bodies that let them hide in cracks to avoid predators. Their bodies are brown with black markings, and their wingspan typically measures around 15 cm (6 in). Both males and females have paired appendages called cerci on the last abdominal segment, but only males have a pair of tiny hair-like appendages called styli. Adult Blaberus giganteus have two pairs of wings that fold back over the abdomen; heavier females are less likely to fly. This species is endemic to the Neotropics, where it occurs in caves and rainforests across Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic), Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It prefers habitats with high moisture and low light, such as caves, tree hollows, and rock cracks.
