Critters in the Classroom: Insect Edition - Madagascar hissing cockroach

Elementary/Middle School

These giant hissers may look large and fierce, but they're all bark and no bite.

Natives of Madagascar, their common name comes from the hissing sound that they make when alarmed by expelling air through their spiracles.

These wingless specimens live for years, bear live young, and rarely escape, posing no threat of infestation and making them fascinating classroom pets - not pests!

Watch this video to get better acquainted with this docile creature and learn how to use them in your classroom to:

Design your own experiments about population effects
Create hypotheses and test ideas about animal behavior
Learn about its native habitat and ecology of Madagascar

Ready to welcome this critter into your classroom? Discover more resources below:

Download the Care and Handling Guide

Shop for Giant Hissing Cockroaches