eublaberus posticus

I think this is so fascinating to watch. I'm so glad I finally got some photos and videos to share with you all. 2 OF 4 VIDEOS POSTED ON YOUTUBE.
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[link] PX207QkmT2c (NO SPACE between = and P - stupid fecking smilies!)

The signs of a roach beginning to molt are: jittery movements, shaking, segments stretching, the body looking thicker/more round, and lastly, the split of the pronotum. It must be so relieving to be a roach, just emerging from a tight shell, and then stretching out. The body of the roach pulses and writhes as though it were made of dough. The wings quickly fill with fluid and smooth out beautifully. There was a male sitting beside her, tapping her with his antennae, awaiting her to emerge as a full and winged adult. He immediately mated with her after chasing off the other males that would approach. This seems to be the pattern of this particular male - it was the same male from the previous video I uploaded of the male mating with the freshly molted female.

I don't care what anyone says... cockroaches ARE fascinating.

Also: Later, I went to check them out and there was another roach nomming on this roach's old molt. They are apparently very good for them to eat, but normally it's the roach that emerged from said molt that eats it. I guess she was preoccupied.