Dec 2, 2007

Opalescent Cockroach

What's worse than a cockroach (no offense, Jade)? An opalescent cockroach, of course. But there's nothing extraordinary going on here, just something ugly (and wonderful, for you bugophiles). When a cockroach molts it becomes white for about 12 hours before its exoskeleton can harden properly.

The last time I molted (sun-sunscreen=burn), I turned a bright red. But after a couple days I settled into a nice, computer-glare pasty white.

Thanks for the photo, Ida.

Photo source: Ester Beatriz via Albuquerque Tribune via boingboing
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7 comments:

  1. Jack RuttanDecember 04, 2007

    Er, how big is it?

    The ones in Thailand were almost good for pets. They'd fight it out with the lizards on my front porch.

    The bitty ones give me the willies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JadeDecember 04, 2007

    I love how pretty they are when they're white for that short period.

    And no offense taken :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 05, 2007

    UGH.... roaches are the devil! I HATE THEM! I didn't know they did this... bleh!

    and BTW
    "The last time I molted (sun-sunscreen=burn), I turned a bright red. But after a couple days I settled into a nice, computer-glare pasty white."

    HILARIOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 05, 2007

    So...white means squishy? Okay, gotta find them at this time to flatten them. (Sorry all you bugophiles. In all actuality I've seen very few cockroaches in real life *knock on wood* let's keep it that way!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. ArachnophileDecember 05, 2007

    LOL - Opals are actually my favorite! How DID you know. ;)

    Seriously, to echo Jade I think these guys are beautiful at this stage, like cicadas only less... green.

    ReplyDelete
  6. BituchiDecember 08, 2007

    Hey, "my" roach still walking on the web!!
    Great!
    Thanks Raging!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Raging WombatDecember 10, 2007

    Thanks for the great photo, Ester.

    ReplyDelete

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