Trinidad Bat Cave Cockroach

a roach on detrus

Trinidad Bat Cave Cockroach Natural History

Size

The Trinidad Bat Cave Cockroach has an approximate length of 5.5 cm. Males are normally smaller than females and have longer wings, and a smaller rear sternite than females have.

Habitat and Distribution

They are native to Central & South America inhabiting dry guano-rich areas in caves. They’re also occasionally found in rotting logs and under decaying litter in rainforests.

Age

They have a short lifespan of 6 months.

Diet

These cockroaches are opportunistic, eating almost anything they can find.

Groups and Breeding

Females produce as many as 40 eggs in an egg case which she carries internally for 30 days before the young emerge as if being born by the female.

Threats

The numbers in the wild are very healthy with colonies of 43 000 having been recorded.

Interesting Facts

This species has several names and can also be known as the six-spotted, four-spotted or four-spot cockroach.

One of their favourite foods in the wild seems to be bat guano, which offers an easy source of varied foods in the darkness of a cave.

Although they have wings they cannot fly.

The Trinidad Bat Cave Cockroach During Your Day Out in Kent

These cockroaches can be seen in our Bug House alongside a wide variety of other species including Common Red Ants, Dairy Cow Isopods and Cherry Shrimp.