Indian domino cockroaches are found in the tropical rainforests and shrublands of southern India.
The life of an Indian domino cockroach
Indian domino cockroaches grow one to two inches and live up to six months in the wild, or up to two years in human care.
Males use their antenna to start the mating process. After mating, females produce packages of eggs called oothecae, which contain about 12 to 16 eggs each. They lay up to 13 oothecae over several weeks, and they hatch after three to five months.
Indian domino cockroaches eat rotting leaves and vegetation. The white spots on their backs mimic the appearance of the six-spot ground beetle, which gives off a foul smell that keeps away predators. Indian domino cockroaches defend themselves by fooling predators that mistake them for the bad smelling beetle.
Their predators include larger insects, reptiles and amphibians such as frogs and toads.
Indian domino cockroaches at the zoo
Located in the Insect Zoo.
