They're dark in color, shaped like half a bean, and curl up to protect themselves when attacked by enemies... Yes, it's the cockroach that you're all familiar with.

Huh? Is that a pill bug? No, no, there are cockroaches that look like pill bugs.

Its name is *Himemaru Gokiburi*. It mainly inhabits Okinawa. It made its debut at Tama Zoo Insectarium in December of last year (2020). Please see Photo 1. This is *Himemaru Gokiburi*, which made its debut in the "Creatures of the Southwest Islands" section.

Photo 1: Japanese cockroach		Photo 2: Through the acrylic panel Six legs are visible.		Photo 3: View from the front. Long antennae

When you poke it with your finger, it curls up into a ball, just like a pill bug, but if you observe it closely, you can see the differences. Looking closely at its underside (Photo 2), it has six legs. This is a characteristic of insects. Pill bugs, which are not insects, have many legs. Also, its antennae are relatively short for a cockroach, but they are longer than those of a pill bug (Photo 3).

Another difference is molting. Pill bugs molt half at a time, front and back, but the Japanese dwarf cockroach sheds its exoskeleton all at once, from the dorsal side. It's so well-preserved that you might mistake it for a dead body (Photo 4).

However, only the females spend their entire lives in this form. While both male and female larvae have a pill bug-like body shape, adult males resemble familiar cockroaches, possessing wings and the ability to fly. Furthermore, unlike the females, who appear clumsy even when sprinting at full speed, males move quickly (Photo 5).

Photo 4: Molted exoskeleton. If you look closely, you can see a notch on its back.		Photo 5: Adult male of the Japanese cockroach (Platypleura kaempferi)

With its pill bug-like appearance, its habit of curling up to protect itself, its not-so-fast gait, and its graceful molting process... its cuteness might even appeal to those who dislike cockroaches. (Although some might find the males a bit… off-putting.)

Although often disliked as a pest, cockroaches living in forests play an important role in the forest environment by eating fallen leaves and other organic matter, returning them to the soil. We hope this will give you a chance to feel closer to these creatures. Insectarium also exhibits pill bugs. We recommend observing the differences between them.

[Tama Zoo]

(March 7, 2021)