Floridians like to think our state has cornered the market on really big bugs. It’s a weird kind of pride but most of us are at least a little guilty of it. Having withstood regular appearances by palmetto bugs and other lovely insects, we’re a tough bunch to impress when it comes to bugs. But the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach will make even a native Floridian calling his Brevard County Pest Control service!
The typical household roach is the German cockroach. It averages about a half inch long. Our Florida wood cockroach is far more impressive. It’s usually about 1¾ inches long. The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, or Hisser as it’s often called, dwarfs these examples with a whopping 2 to 3 inches of average length.
Thankfully, Hissers aren’t considered a pest control problem, at least here in the states. They are native to their namesake island in the Indian Ocean. They live on the forest floor and rarely, if ever, enter human dwellings even in their native lands.
Hissers are brown, oval-shaped and shiny and they have the ability to make a very unusual noise that gives them the rest of their name. Most insects that make noise do so by vibrating or rubbing various part of their anatomy. Hissers make theirs by exhaling through their breathing holes, which is an action much more common to vertebrates. They use their trademark hiss in fighting – the males are territorial and aggressive – as well as part of the mating ritual and a general warning alarm.
Appearances on TV shows like Fear Factor and Criminal Minds and in movies like Men in Black and Starship Troopers have boosted this bug’s notoriety and popularity. Their fans are now keeping Hissers as exotic pets. Most states have laws to help keep Hissers from entering the environment so it’s best to do a little research before purchasing one or several.
Vegetables of any sort plus the addition of a dry protein source (like dry dog food) will sustain Hissers with predictable success. Some states require that they be kept in a small colony like they would be in nature. Others may only allow males as pets to prevent an egg-bearing female from accidentally going rouge. A permit may be required to be sure to get all the details on local ordinances.
Florida certainly has more than its fair share of extraordinary insect but even we have to admit that Hissers have won the big bug battle!