BURMEISTER (DEATH'S HEAD) COCKROACH (Blaberus craniifer)
The Burmeister Cockroach is popularly known as the Death's Head Cockroach due to the unusual skull-like markings on its pronotum. It is a large cockroach, with a few occasionally reaching around 3-4 inches in size, but most are around 2 1/2 inches long. The adults have wings and do not actually fly, but they will glide. They have been sold in pet stores as a type to breed for use as pet food (typically for lizards and tarantulas). Some people also keep them in terrariums as pets.
The Death's Head Cockroach usually eats vegetation and fruits, but they will go after some proteins, especially pet food left outdoors. The normal habitat is under leaf mulch and rotting wood in humid locations. The nymphs will burrow, but the adults are too large to do so effectively.
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