{{Short description|Species of cockroach}} {{Speciesbox | image = Dubia-cockroach-female-near-ruler.jpg | genus = Blaptica | species = dubia | authority = Serville, 1838 | synonyms = * ''Blabera claraziana'' <small>Saussure 1864</small><ref name=eol-synonym>{{ Cite encyclopedia | title = Synonyms of Argentinian Wood Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Life | url = http://eol.org/pages/1074985/names/synonyms | accessdate = 24 December 2013 }}</ref> * ''Blabera ligata'' <small>Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865</small> * ''Blabera dubia'' <small>Serville, 1838</small> }} thumb|right|200px|Dubia cockroaches: Adult Male, Adult Female, and Juvenile.
'''''Blaptica dubia''''', the '''dubia roach''', '''orange-spotted roach''',<ref name="SchultzSchultz2009">{{cite book|last1= Schultz|first1=Stanley A.|last2= Schultz|first2=Marguerite J. |title=The Tarantula Keeper's Guide: Comprehensive Information on Care, Housing, and Feeding|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rIVAkA3IlHgC&pg=PA172|date=1 January 2009|publisher=Barron's Educational Series|isbn=978-0-7641-3885-0|page=172}}</ref> '''Guyana spotted roach''',<ref name="Veselý2006">{{ cite journal|last1=Veselý |first1=Petr |last2=Fuchs |first2=Fuchs |title=Evolution of warning colouration in palatable prey – An experimental approach |year=2006 |publisher=Diplomky – Center of Cognitive Ethology |url=http://www.cke.cz/theses/Vliv-zkusenosti-predatora-%28Vesely-mag%29.pdf |pages=12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224200704/http://www.cke.cz/theses/Vliv-zkusenosti-predatora-%28Vesely-mag%29.pdf |archivedate=2013-12-24 }}</ref> or '''Argentinian wood roach''',<ref name=eol-common>{{ Cite encyclopedia | title = Common Names for Argentinian Wood Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Life | url = http://eol.org/pages/1074985/names/common_names | accessdate= 24 December 2013 }}</ref><ref name=ncbi>{{cite web | title=Taxonomy browser (Blaptica dubia) | work = Taxonomy browser | publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=132935 | date=24 December 2013}}</ref> is a medium-sized species of cockroach which grows to around {{convert|40|–|45|mm|abbr=on}}.<ref name=hebard1921/><ref name="WuAppel2013"/>
==Description== They are sexually dimorphic; adult males have full wings covering their body, while females have only tiny wing stubs - their tegmina (forewings) being around a fourth of their body length.<ref name=hebard1921/><ref name=kesel2009/> Adults are dark brown to black with somewhat lighter orange spot/stripe patterning sometimes visible only in bright light. Coloration differs slightly with environment and diet from one colony to another.
''Blaptica dubia'' are partially ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young after eggs hatch inside the female,<ref name=wu2013/> and can give birth to 20 to 40 nymphs per month under favorable conditions.
==Distribution== The dubia cockroach is found in southern parts of South America. Documented specimens have been found in Brazil,<ref name="AlmeidaDuarte2002">{{cite journal |doi=10.1590/S0074-02762002000800011 |pages=1127–31 |title=Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) II: Trophic resources and ecological observations of five populations collected in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |journal=Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz |volume=97 |issue=8 |year=2002 |last1=Almeida |first1=Carlos Eduardo |last2=Duarte |first2=Rosemere |last3=Nascimento |first3=Raquel Guerra do |last4=Pacheco |first4=Raquel S |last5=Costa |first5=Jane |pmid=12563478 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Argentina,<ref name=hebard1921/> and Uruguay.<ref name=hebard1921>{{cite book|last=Hebard|first=Morgan|title=South American blattidae from the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9fwAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA289|series=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia|volume=73|year=1921|publisher=The Academy of Natural Sciences|location=Philadelphia|pages=288–290|issue=Part 2}}</ref>
==Flight== While rarely known to fly, adult males have fully developed wings and pigmented musculature typical of cockroaches able to meet the rapid energy requirements of sustained flight.<ref name=kesel2009/><ref name=wu2013/> In laboratory test launches from a ramp 2.5 m high, adult male ''B. dubia'' were able to right their dorso-ventral position and rapidly deploy their wings to control and direct their descent; however, active powered flight did not maintain or increase their altitude.<ref name=kesel2009>{{cite journal | last1=Kesel | first1=Antonia B | last2=Martin | first2=Andrew | last3=Hoffmann | first3=Florian | date=15 December 2009 | title=Quantifying the landing reaction of cockroaches: final report | publisher=European Space Agency – Advanced Concepts Team | url=https://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/doc/ARI/ARI%20Study%20Report/ACT-RPT-BIO-ARI-08-6302-CockroachLanding-Bremen.pdf }}</ref> Adult females have only rudimentary forewings and lack the muscles required for flight, and showed no flight control in test launches.<ref name=kesel2009/>
==Climbing== Neither adults nor juveniles can climb smooth, vertical surfaces, since they do not have a developed arolium.<ref name=wu2013>{{ cite journal|last=Wu |first=Hao |title=Biology of ''Blaptica dubia'' (Blattodea: Blaberidae) (thesis) |date=3 August 2013 |url=http://etd.auburn.edu/etd/bitstream/handle/10415/3735/Thesis_Hao_7_15_final.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105201049/http://etd.auburn.edu/etd/bitstream/handle/10415/3735/Thesis_Hao_7_15_final.pdf |archivedate=2014-01-05 }}</ref>
==Reproduction== ''Blaptica dubia'' is an ovoviviparous species, generally giving birth to live young, and pregnancy in one study lasted 48–64 days, in a 26°C (78.8°F) environment with alternating 12-hour light and dark photoperiods.<ref>{{cite journal |id={{INIST|2964339}} |doi=10.1127/entom.gen/20/1996/169 |last1=Hintze-Podufal |first1=Christel |last2=Vetter |first2=Rainer |title=Hormonal control of courtship behavior and reproductive cycle in the cockroach species Blaptica dubia (Blattoidea: Blaberoidea: Blaberidae) |journal=Entomologia Generalis |volume=20 |issue=3 |year=1996 |pages=169–75 }}</ref> It carries the ootheca (egg capsule), which holds about 20-35 eggs, until they are ready to hatch, or may drop it earlier under stress conditions.<ref name=alamer2013>{{ cite thesis |last=Alamer |first=Ahmad Hussein |title=Endocrine control of fat body composition and effects of the insect growth regulators methoprene and pyriproxyfen on the development and reproduction of the Argentinian cockroach, Blaptica dubia Serville (Blattaria: Blaberidae) |year=2013 |url=http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/1252/file/Diss.+Alamer.pdf |accessdate=25 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085803/http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/1252/file/Diss.%2BAlamer.pdf |archivedate=6 October 2014 }}</ref> Adults live for up to 2 years, females slightly longer than males.<ref name=alamer2013/> Growth and reproduction rates are sensitive to environmental conditions, optimally 25–30°C and above 60% relative humidity.<ref name=alamer2013/>
==Use as feeder insect== ''Blaptica dubia'' has become a popular feeder insect, particularly among tarantula, amphibian, and reptile enthusiasts and owners.<ref name="WuAppel2013">{{cite journal |last1=Wu |first1=Hao |last2=Appel |first2=Arthur G. |last3=Hu |first3=Xing Ping |title=Instar Determination of ''Blaptica dubia'' (Blattodea: Blaberidae) Using Gaussian Mixture Models |journal=Annals of the Entomological Society of America |volume=106 |issue=3 |year=2013 | pages=323–8 |doi=10.1603/AN12131 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=alamer2013/> Keeping or breeding the insect is made easier by their inability to jump or climb smooth surfaces, relatively slow movement, and rarity of flying.<ref name=wu2013/><ref name=alamer2013/><ref name="Rubio2008">{{cite book|last=Rubio|first=Manny|title=Scorpions: Everything about Purchase, Care, Feeding, and Housing|url=https://archive.org/details/scorpionseveryth00rubi|url-access=registration|year=2008|publisher=Barron's Educational Series|isbn=978-0-7641-3981-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/scorpionseveryth00rubi/page/81 81]}}</ref><ref name=Friederich2004>{{cite book|last1=Friederich|first1=Ursula|last2=Volland|first2=Werner |title=Breeding food animals: live food for vivarium animals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tUZWAAAAYAAJ&q=Blaptica+dubia|date=September 2004|publisher=Krieger Pub.|isbn=978-1-57524-045-9|page=66}}</ref> They are also quiet, unlike crickets, and tropical environmental requirements reduce the likelihood of establishment of escapees in colder, dryer climates.<ref name=alamer2013/> ''B. dubia'' can cause allergic reactions in humans,<ref name=alamer2013/> although they produce relatively little odor compared to many cockroaches.<ref name=wu2013/>
A study found other cockroaches (Turkestan ("red runner") cockroaches, Madagascar hissing cockroaches,) provided a high-protein, low fat nutrition composition similar to crickets, more so than mealworms or superworm larvae provide.<ref name=Oonincx2012>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/zoo.20382 |pmid=21442652 |pages=40–54 |title=An Investigation into the Chemical Composition of Alternative Invertebrate Prey |journal=Zoo Biology |volume=31 |issue=1 |year=2012 |last1=Oonincx |first1=D.G.A.B |last2=Dierenfeld |first2=E.S }}</ref> The gut contents of the cockroach, depending on its diet, may provide essential nutrients unavailable from a cockroach with an empty gut.<ref name=Oonincx2012/> Vitamin and mineral content in studied cockroaches was well represented except for low calcium:phosphorus ratios typical in cockroaches, and relatively low vitamin A and E in captive cockroaches.<ref name=Oonincx2012/> Supplementation of these nutrients in feeder cockroaches may be advisable.<ref name=Oonincx2012/>
===Legality=== Canada and some US states do not allow importation by the general public of ''B. dubia'', considered by some as an invasive species.<ref name=pacheco2011/> A Florida man was arrested on felony charges in 2011, related to ordering 500 ''B. dubia'' over the internet using a doctored permit, typically issued to researchers.<ref name=pacheco2011>{{cite news | title=Man arrested on charges of purchasing 500 illegal exotic roaches online | last=Pacheco | first=Walter | date=28 January 2011 | work=The Orlando Sentinel | publisher=Tribune Company | url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-01-28/news/os-illegal-roaches-purchased-orlando-20110128_1_roaches-insects-invasive-species | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131224104801/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-01-28/news/os-illegal-roaches-purchased-orlando-20110128_1_roaches-insects-invasive-species | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 24, 2013 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links == * {{Commons-inline}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4667277}} dubia Category:Pet foods Category:Insects described in 1838 Category:Taxa named by Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville