Giant burrowing cockroach

The giant burrowing cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros), also known as the rhinoceros cockroach and Queensland giant cockroach, is a large cockroach native to Australia, found mostly tropical and subtropical parts of Queensland. They are the world's heaviest species of cockroach and can weigh up to 30-35 grams and measure up to 7.5-8 cm (3.1 in) in length. It is a member of the family Blaberidae, which contains hundreds of species. It is part of the blaberid subfamily Geoscapheinae. It is prominent in the wild and can also be sold and kept as a pet. Unlike some other cockroaches, the giant burrowing cockroach does not have wings and is not considered a pest. This species plays a vital part in the ecosystem by consuming dead leaves, eucalyptus in particular, and recycling other matter. They may burrow down in soil to a depth of about 1 m (3 ft 3 in), where they make permanent homes and feed on collected dry leaf litter. The giant burrowing cockroach is the only cockroach in the world known to have permanent burrows in the soil. The species play an important ecological role in that it contributes to the recycling of nutrients in the wild. The cockroach is popular in Brisbane and is frequently sold as a pet.