Kingdom Animalia Order Blattodea Genus Nauphoeta Higher classification Nauphoeta | Phylum Arthropoda Family Blaberidae Scientific name Nauphoeta cinerea Rank Species | |
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Similar Blattodea, Insect, Blaberus, Madagascar hissing cockroach, Turkestan cockroach | ||
The speckled or lobster cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea, is a circum-tropical species, originally from North-Eastern Africa, that has achieved a much wider distribution due to its association with man.
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Reproduction
The females of this species are capable of reproducing using parthenogenesis (that is, without males).
Facultative parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a natural form of reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilisation. N. cinerea can reproduce by facultative parthenogenesis, that is, some are capable of switching from a sexual mode of reproduction to an asexual mode when isolated from males. However, fitness of parthenogenetically reproducing females is significantly lower than fitness of sexually reproducing females. Tenfold fewer offspring are produced by parthenogenesis due to decreases in both the number of offspring per clutch and the number of clutches produced. Parthenogenetic offspring are less viable than sexually produced offspring even in the benign conditions of the laboratory. Development of parthenogens to adulthood is slower. Fewer parthenogens survive to adulthood and the adult lifespan of parthenogens is reduced. These findings suggest that there are specific constraints in switching from a meiotic mode of reproduction requiring fertilization to a parthenogenetic mode in which zygotes develop in the absence of fertilization.
In Captivity
This species breeds readily in captivity and is often used as livefood for other invertebrates such as tarantulas and praying mantids, as well as smaller lizards.