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Glowspot Roach (Lucihormetica verrucosa)

Lucihormetica verrucosa

The Lucihormetica verrucosa (Glowspot Roach). It is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic roaches in the world: males possess two large yellow-orange bulges on the pronotum (which look like 'Jawa' eyes from Star Wars). Unlike its cousins, this roach is famous for an alleged (and very rare) defensive bioluminescence in nature (the spots would emit a faint glow if the insect is disturbed in the dark thanks to symbiotic bacteria or phosphorescent deposits absorbed from the diet of toxic fungi). It is a stubby, wide and short roach (1.6 inches), which digs deeply into the substrate. It is much more delicate than African roaches or Dubias: it demands cool temperatures (fears tropical heat) and a constantly and uniformly moist substrate not to dehydrate. A true collector's jewel, not suitable as a feeder insect due to the very hard calcified shell and slow reproduction.

Taxonomy
Class:Insecta
Order:Blattodea
Family:Blaberidae
Genus:Lucihormetica
Species:Lucihormetica verrucosa

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

50 - 70 %

Day temperature

22 - 30 °C

Night temperature

20 - 22 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement.
Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy API record 1994567 has Lucihormetica verrucosa as canonicalName, rank SPECIES and taxonomicStatus ACCEPTED. The record has class Insecta, order Blattodea, family Blaberidae and genus Lucihormetica. This recovery makes no genetic statement.
Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: This recovery provides no enclosure or substrate prescription.
Lighting and Heating: This recovery sets no photoperiod or temperature target.
Humidity and Hydration: This recovery sets no humidity or watering target.
Feeding and Supplementation: This recovery sets no feeding or supplementation protocol.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The study describes Lucihormetica verrucosa as highly sexually dimorphic, with males bearing two symmetrically organised pronotal glowspots. It reports that male mass did not significantly affect female courtship behaviour, while the presence of male pronotal spots significantly affected female interactive behaviours. This is a courtship-study observation, not a cohabitation recommendation.
Health and Common Diseases: This recovery provides no health, disease, or treatment protocol.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Sud America (Foreste montane nebbiose e tronchi marcescenti in Colombia e Venezuela).

Origin

Extra-Amazon South AmericaAfrica and MadagascarEast Asia

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
4.5 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 4.5 cm. The University of Plymouth — Lucihormetica verrucosa study source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4.5 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Lucihormetica verrucosa. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Orange Head Roach (Eublaberus posticus)

Orange Head Roach (Eublaberus posticus)

Eublaberus posticus

Discoid Cockroach

Discoid Cockroach

Blaberus discoidalis

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Gromphadorhina portentosa

Dubia Roach (Blaptica dubia)

Dubia Roach (Blaptica dubia)

Blaptica dubia

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Glowspot Roach (Lucihormetica verrucosa) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium