Blaberidae

Family Blaberidae Mostly large species; spines of middle and hindfemurs variable; male subgenital plate asymmetrical; viviparous or ovoviparous; from 10 to 60 mm in size; worldwide in distribution; about 650 species. Suborder Mantodea (mantids) Head usually conspicuous anterior to a narrow pronotum, seldom concealed by a…

Known for its giant cockroaches, Blaberidae is a large family of large cockroaches. The most famous of these is the Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), one of the most sizeable of all cockroach species. Reaching 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) in…

…cockroaches, only one family (Blaberidae) is viviparous; the other four families contain species that have well formed egg cases (oothecae). Among these families, some species carry the oothecae protruding from the body until hatching time is near; others, however, deposit their egg cases within several days of formation. Usually…