New Roaches

 Hello everyone. Today I had just received a package containing some really cool roach species.

All three species are locally sourced by the seller, occuring in South Sumatra. 

This species is more of a burrower and a more secretive species, and was said to mimic beetles. This is Ergaula cf. pilosa, a larger species of Ergaula said to reach about 3-4cm in length. 

Ergaula cf. pilosa cup 

This was the cup I received them in, I got around 20-ish nymphs and a single adult male which could have matured in shipping or with the seller. I did find a few pretty large female nymphs, so I'm expecting to find some adult females popping out soon, and hopefully producing more nymphs.

Ergaula cf. pilosa enclosure

I am keeping them in this 35x26x18 (cm) storage tub with around 5cm of substrate (top soil) with some leaf litter, sphagnum, and locally sourced bark.

Ergaula cf. pilosa possibly female nymph

Next is also a mimic, but this time a batesian mimic. (Mimicking a more harmful organism) Paranauphoeta lyrata, also known as the Lyrate Assassin Mimic. They are reported to mimic an Asian assassin bug genus called Acanthaspis.

Paranauphoeta lyrata 

Check out the pattern similarity to the Acanthaspis assassin bugs 

Photo: Harikrishnan S., India Biodiversity Portal

I got around 10-15 specimens, including adults and nymphs.

Here is a nymph. Not so similar to assassin bugs, but still have a stunning coloration and pattern.

Paranauphoeta lyrata enclosure 

I am keeping them in the same size enclosure as the Ergaula, and also with locally sourced bark, topsoil, sphagnum, and leaf litter. For this enclosure, I'll probably try going with a moisture gradient somewhat like isopods.

Last species I got are a larger species, and is not a mimic. They are Asian flat roaches, Homalosilpha ustulata. They are not so common being kept in hobbyists' or breeders' collections, and from what I've seen are currently only in Asian culture. I am hoping for someone or maybe myself to introduce this species to be more common in culture.

Homalosilpha ustulata 

They are stunning aren't they? And wow, they really are flat roaches haha 😅

I was supposed to receive 10 specimens, but a few escaped during shipping due to a crack in the cup and also a few casualties, and I ended up with 5 specimens.

Regardless, I hope to breed this species and maintain a thriving colony.

This is their enclosure, but I was told that they enjoy more stacked layers and crevices to hide in, but I'm currently out of bark so I'll definitely go and collect more and add them in as stacked layers.

Anyway, that's all for this post. Thank you for reading till the end, and I'll see you in the next one. Cya! 👋