We have done RoboRoach experiments with other types of cockroaches, such as Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and Blaberus Gigantes, as well as Chinese beetles and scorpions (not recommended). The insect needs to be large enough to carry the backpack. Any large beetle or cockroach should work.
- We use any breed of large cockroach, typically between 3-4 cm in length. Our preferred are discoid cockroaches (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaberus_discoidalis)
- It’s best to use cockroaches that have wings, as you can tell if the cockroach is mature or not. We only use mature cockroaches (with wings) so as not to affect molting.
- The RoboRoach surgery works as well on American Periplaneta. They are just a bit faster than discoid ones when they run, but that is the only important difference.
Dubias are acceptable for the Neuron SpikerBox experiments, but not the RoboRoach, as these cockroaches are too small to handle the backpack.