← Back to species
Beetle Mimic Roach
Ergaula capucina
RoachbeginnerHarmlessCommunal OK
No venom, no sting
Pet and feeder roaches are harmless to humans — no venom, no sting, and no meaningful bite. Wash your hands after handling.
About
A charming 'beetle mimic' roach — rounded, glossy females look strikingly like beetles and are flightless. Harmless. Give 2-3 inches of substrate with a deep hardwood leaf-litter layer (important nymph food) and a humidity gradient: drier on top, damp below, with moderate-to-high ventilation, 72-84°F. A slow breeder — oothecae take 3-4 months to hatch and nymphs 6-8 months to mature — so build the colony patiently.
Taxonomy
FamilyCorydiidae
GenusErgaula
Native regionSoutheast Asia
TypeFossorial
Temperamentdocile; burrowing beetle mimic
Size & growth
Adult size~1-1.2 in
Body length0.98–1.18 in
Growth rateslow
Life stagesNumbered instars
Climate
Temperature72–84°F
Humidity60–80%
Enclosure
Adult sizeventilated bin with deep substrate
Substratecoco/topsoil with a thick hardwood leaf-litter layer (nymph food)
Substrate depth2-3 inches
Water dishOptional
Feeding
Feeding modeOmnivore
Dietdog/fish food, fruit, leaf litter
Food & schedulecontinuous (colony)
Times kept: 0