Dubia Roach vs Exploding Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dubia Roach | Exploding Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Blaptica dubia | Neocapritermes taracua |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Blaberidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 35-45 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Caves |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | South America, Central America | French Guiana, northern South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dubia Roach
A medium-sized South American cockroach with sexually dimorphic adults: males have full wings while females have only tiny wing stubs. It is widely bred as feeder insects.
Did You Know?
Dubia roaches are preferred feeder insects for reptiles because they cannot climb smooth surfaces or fly, making escape from enclosures nearly impossible.
Exploding Termite
A soil-feeding termite from French Guiana known for workers that carry backpack-like pouches of toxic crystals. When attacked, older workers rupture these pouches to release a sticky, toxic substance. This is the first documented case of worker autothysis in termites.
Did You Know?
Older workers develop blue crystal backpacks on their abdomens that become more toxic with age, essentially turning elderly workers into walking chemical weapons.