Madagascar hissing cockroach

This is one of the largest species. They are native from Madagascar. Unlike most cockroaches, they are wingless but they are excellent climbers and can even scale smooth glass.

As the common name suggests, the Madagascar hissing cockroach is characterized by their hissing sound which is produced when they forcefully expel air through the specially-adapted respiratory openings (spiracles). The Madagascar hissing cockroach is only one member of a group of roaches that can hiss and this exact mode of sound production is atypical, as most insects that make sound do so by rubbing together various body parts, such as legs.