Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Crawlies, Young and Old (Gromphadorhina portentosa) скачать в хорошем качестве

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Crawlies, Young and Old (Gromphadorhina portentosa)

Original Post: https://jonnysinsectcatalogue.tumblr.... Do note that near the end of this insect showcase, there's a robust male flexing his abdomen. He is likely not exercising, but rather trying to emit bursts of territorial pheromones from his rear. If so, he had better be ready for challengers that may take issue. If you're curious as so what happens in those challenges, please read on. Today's video features these somewhat unusual insects which are part of the live exhibits at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum (the ROM). Like most museums, there's always more to discover, observe and learn with each visit. Within the ROM's natural history section, one can find a series of terrariums that house interesting species with a particular behavior or form-based highlight of interest. For today's video, the Royal Ontario Museum's Roaches are back for another round of filming! What are they up to this time? Well, as mentioned the prior video to feature these insects, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) feature remarkable social dynamics between each other, despite them not being eusocial (colony-making, queen ruled) insects. Using touch, scent cues, pheromones and their trademark hissing sounds, this specie's individuals are able to communicate a wide variety of matters with each other. While cooperation and safety are preferable, and calm is shown in today's video, there are instances where rivalries between aggregated Roaches flare up and must be resolved. Specifically, this occurs between the males. Firstly, to distinguish male Madagascar Hissing Roaches from females, you only need look from the presence of pronounced knob-like structures which protrude from their pronotum (thoracic shield). Females will be smooth-shelled with little to no trace of these knobs, while males will feature two of these bumps to varying degrees of thickness, sharpness and inclination. These pronotum humps functionally act as horns and - in similar fashion to large Scarab Beetles - are put to use in bouts regarding claims to territory and access to mates. When two males square off, ramming and charging male-on-male Roach combat will begin, and each rival will hiss throughout to display their prowess to the other. If such a battle goes on for a while and the challenging Roach refuses to give in, their sparring may result one of the Roaches being flipped over. Even in captivity battles are possible, if only to attempt to charge their position in the hierarchy. With a few males of note inside this terrarium, they've likely established a hierarchy over time, but I'd wager it took a few ramming contests to get there. On one such occasion when visiting the ROM, a dominant male chased a challenger to the highest point (of a branch) within the terrarium, giving the challenger two choices, either of which was a surrender: submit or jump/drop. The rival chose the latter, ending the battle for a time. It's not all battles, angry hissing, and scurrying away when it comes to these insects though. Males can still be social with each other... sometimes, and females get along with each other and don't engage in headbutting behaviour. Moreover, male will hiss in a softer, more alluring fashion around females as they court them and mate. And of course, they are quite useful within their ecosystem as detritivores to eat away material which is rotting or spent. Inside a live exhibit however, they are provided with vegetable pieces and a container of water which is consumed more easily via the cotton ball at the opening. Rest assured that while their mandibles are useful in eating fibers and vegetable pieces, they are little more than a tickle on human skin. Still I wouldn't advise handling these insects outside of their terrarium; they may be wingless, but their slippery and speedy form can allow them to move tremendous distances quickly! With the amount of sensory features on their body (cerci, spikes, vibration sensors, eyesight and antennae), sneaking up on them can prove tricky. If you happen to visit the Royal Ontario Museum, come and see the bugs on display if you can. There is much to be learned from observing them. And for more insects and insect photography, you can visit my main blog:   / jonnysinsectcatalogue