Death’s Head Roach

Blaberus craniifer

Cultivar name: “Orin McMonigle”

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Mixed nymphs: $4/each
Starter colony (12 mixed nymphs): $40

Detailed Species Stats -Click-

  • Adult Size: Male: 53 mm. Female: 57 mm.
  • Climbing Abilities: All life stages cannot climb.
  • Flying Abilities: Cannot fly.
  • Mode of Birth: Ovoviviparous.
  • Care Level: Easy.
  • Temperature Requirements: 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Air Humidity: Not picky.
  • Substrate Humidity: Not picky.
  • Favorite Foods: Not picky.
  • Locality: Key West, Florida.

Probably one of the coolest roaches, the death’s head roach is often (unbelievably) mistaken for several other species, including the smaller and less striking Blaberus discoidalis. The tell-tale mark of the death’s head roach is the jack-o-lantern face on the pronotum, as well as the jet-black wings. Fairly easy to keep, the nymphs enjoy a substrate. This cultivar has higher contrast in its colors and a very distinct pronotum marking, but is smaller and more skittish than the “University of California, Riverside” cultivar. This strain comes from long-time invertebrate master Orin McMonigle, and had some degree of selection of pronotum marking crispness in its infancy.

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