Dubia Roaches: Life Span, Flight Capability, And How To Care For Them
Posted by Lucas Blake on Aug 15th 2024
Blaptica dubia, more commonly referred to as Dubia roaches, are some of the exotic feeder insects, particularly in reptile and amphibian pets.
They are popular for the nutrition they provide, their low maintenance and generally obedient tendencies.
This guide covers their life cycle, ability to fly, and proper husbandry techniques to ensure a healthy Dubia roach breeding colony.
Can Dubia Roaches Fly?
A common question among pet owners is: Can Dubia roaches fly?
The answer differs between male and female roaches because of the diverse anatomies of the sex organs.
Male Dubia Roaches
The adult male has well-developed wings that protrude beyond the abdomen. However, due to incomplete metamorphosis development, their flight muscles are not strong enough to accommodate periods of powered flight.
Their flighting movements are short and less volant compared to a flight and do not fall under true fliers.
Female Dubia Roaches
Females also have mutilated wings that do not support flight or gliding.
They locomate by legs and do not have any instance of flying.
Verdict
Males: Can make short, powered, and uncoordinated flights, but they cannot sustain them.
Females: Fully wings can neither fly nor glide.
Life Cycle Stages
Nymph Stage: After hatching from the eggs, these small roaches spend around 4-6 months in the nymph stage. In this stage, they molt several times and increase in size with each molt.
Adult Stage: Once it has matured, the lifespan varies between genders.
Males: Usually survive an additional 9 – 10 months.
Females: Usually live longer, from 18 to 24 months.
Lifespan Overview
|
Life Stage |
Duration (Months) |
|
Nymph |
4-6 |
|
Adult Male |
9-10 |
|
Adult Female |
18-24 |
Factors Influencing Lifespan
Several factors can impact how long dubia roaches last in their container :
- Temperature: A range between 80-90°F (27-32°C) is most favorable for growth.
- Humidity: Relaying humidity between 40-60% is healthy in avoiding dehydration.
- Diet: Avoiding unhealthy foods like sweets, fats, and sugar should replace a proper diet of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
- Cleanliness: Cleaning the container often helps avoid mould development and prevents diseases from spreading.
Basic Measures For Control
It is essential to take good care of the roach colony if it must be healthy and productive. Below are key aspects to consider:
01. Housing
Container: Keep in a vented plastic or glass container with a smooth interior to minimize the chances of their escape. Ensure the container is large enough to contain the required colony size without compromise.
Substrate: Although not required, something like coconut fiber will help to keep the humidity at the necessary levels.
Hiding Spaces: To lower the stress, let them find some small shelters. You can use egg cartons or cardboard tubes.
02. Temperature and Humidity
Heating: A heat mat or ceramic emitter should be used and maintained within a range of 80-90°F [27-32°C]. They should not be placed in areas exposed to heat that may be fatal to these insects.
Humidity: Decide to constantly mist the container to keep humidity between 40 and 60%. The other condition is that appropriate ventilation should be provided to help reduce the chances of the formation of molds.
03. Diet
Primary Food: Eat fruits such as apples, oranges and vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes to get essential vitamins and minerals.
Supplemental Food: Feed them with oats or commercial roach chow to give them a balanced diet.
Hydration: Feed them foods that contain a lot of water, and consider using crystals so they can get their water without the risk of drowning.
Cleaning
Frequency: Therefore, scoop out the wastes and uneaten feeds in the container once a week or two.
Procedure: Move the roaches to another temporary vessel, remove the substrate you provided, scrub the vessel with soap and water, and replace soiled interests with new ones.
Dubia Roaches Nutrition Content
They are favored as feeder insects due to their impressive nutritional profile:
- Protein: Elemental composition of the product: The protein content per bag is 20-23% to foster the muscles in predatory pets.
- Fat: About 7-8% of fat is present, which gives it energy value without making it an obesity-forming food item.
- Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio: A recommended 1:1 ratio may be enriched by feeding the roaches calcium-enriched diets to the pets.
Myths About Dubia Roaches
Are They Domestic?
Yes, they do not cause home invasions like the pest cockroaches. In most
Are These Roaches Noisy?
They are nocturnal and do not make any audible sounds. They do not produce chirping-like crickets' sounds, making them ideal feeder insects.
Conclusion: Fight Or Flight
Dubia roaches are perfectly well-suited for use as feeder insects because they are easy to feed, long-lived, easy to breed, and of high nutritional value.
Knowledge of their flight abilities, life span, farming, and feed stability avails a healthy stock for these unique exotic creatures. Therefore, you can find several benefits of a healthy roach colony with suitable environmental conditions and appropriate practices.
If you are willing to feed your pet the most delicious roaches, you are in for a treat. TopFlight Dubia offers roaches of different varieties with different collections. Explore and make your bearded dragon friend happy.