A truly rare sight! 🪳 This Madagascar hissing cockroach is giving live birth, an incredible process you don’t often see captured. Unlike many insects that lay eggs, female hissers carry their egg case internally until the young are ready to emerge (often 20-40 at a time). When born, the tiny nymphs are soft and white, gradually hardening and darkening as they grow. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are harmless, fascinating insects that help recycle nutrients in their native forests, and their uni

As Madagascar hissing cockroaches grow, they shed their exoskeletons in a process called molting. Young cockroaches molt approximately six times in six months! They are particularly vulnerable to predators during this time because until their keratin hardens, they appear completely white, making them highly visible! | Henry Vilas Zoo

DID YOU KNOW Madagascar hissing cockroaches are ovoviviparous? This means that the young develop in eggs which are hatched within the mother's body. As you can see in this video, nymphs are white initially before their exoskeletons harden. 🎥: Senior keeper Erin #CreatureFeature | California Science Center

This Valentine's Day, you can symbolically name a Madagascar hissing cockroach in honor of that un-special (or special) someone in your life with a $15 donation that supports the Zoo. Name your cockroach today at https://bit.ly/4auxjFL | Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are masters of transformation! They shed their exoskeletons about 6 times in their first 6 months, but slow down the frequency as adults. After each molt it takes them a couple of hours to regain their color! ✨🪳 | The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore