Death's Head Cockroach

Looks how to spot one

Exoskeleton

A large cockroach with a glossy brown body, jet-black wings that drape like a cloak over the abdomen, and a pale, skull-shaped marking on the pronotum (the shield behind the head). Adults have fully developed wings but rarely fly, preferring to glide short distances. Nymphs are wingless and spend most of their time burrowing.16

Personality what they are like

Exceptionally calm and non-aggressive. They move slowly and deliberately, rarely attempt to bite or flee, and tolerate handling well. When startled they may glide away or emit a mild defensive odour, but neither is problematic. Their composed nature makes them ideal for educational programmes and display.5

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Low activity; they are nocturnal and spend most of the day hiding under bark or in substrate. Provide vertical surfaces (e.g. cork bark, egg flat) for nymphs to moult on. Adults may glide short distances, so a moderately sized enclosure with floor space is sufficient.76

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Very low maintenance. Keep the enclosure clean by removing uneaten food regularly. Provide a shallow water dish with a cotton pad to prevent drowning. No special grooming is needed; they keep themselves clean.6

Home where they are happiest

A warm, humid enclosure with at least 10 gallons for a small colony. Floor space is more important than height. Use 7-10 cm (3 inches) of moisture-retaining substrate (e.g. peat, coconut coir) for burrowing. Provide hides like rotting logs, cork bark, and leaf litter. Temperature 21-29°C (70-85°F), humidity 65-85%. A simple lid is fine because they cannot climb smooth surfaces.625

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivorous scavenger. In captivity feed fresh fruit and vegetables (especially plums and carrots), wet dog food, moist cereal, grains, and prepared insect food. Provide food in a shallow dish and remove leftovers to keep the enclosure clean.62

Company who they like around

Gregarious and social; they thrive in groups and use aggregation pheromones to cluster together. Colonies can be kept at relatively high densities without conflict. They are not venomous, do not bite under normal circumstances, and are legal to keep in most countries, but check local regulations as some regions restrict non-native invertebrates.52

The story where it all began

The death's head cockroach has been kept by hobbyists and entomologists for many years due to its striking skull-like marking and calm nature. It is often confused with the similar discoid cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis), but true B. craniifer is distinguished by its jet-black wings and amber/black pronotal marking. It is one of the easiest cockroach species to care for and is also used as a feeder insect for reptiles.16