EDIT - We have confirmed ootheca! I’m reporting my own post.
The cockroaches themselves aren’t really all that dull, if you ask me, but the way they came into my care feels like classic dull man happenstance.
I got 2 males and 3 females; I’ve separated them, but I’m pretty sure two of the females are already impregnated.
Fun facts about Hissing Cockroaches:
-They can reproduce every 2 months, but usually no more than 3 times per year.
-They give birth to 10-40 live babies (called nymphs) at a time.
-They do this by laying an egg case (called an ootheca) INSIDE THEIR OWN ABDOMEN. After a few weeks, the case ruptures and they push it and their babies out the backside of their abdomen.
-While pregnant, they will often open the rear of their abdomen and allow the ootheca some fresh air.
-When born, the nymphs are only a few millimeters in size, but they can grow to over 3 inches (~7cm) long.
-Nymphs can reproduce after 6 months.
-They can live for up to 4 years on average!
-Other than a few sharp little spikes on their legs, they are completely harmless.
-Contrary to popular belief, they are VERY CLEAN. They feed on decaying wood, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables and the occasional meal of dead meat, but they prefer the fresh stuff.
This is not nearly dull enough for this sub
I was at a conference for section 8 housing maintenance men, if that helps at all. Other than the bugs it was very dull.
Well, the bugs, and the HVAC instructor left his mic on while he was talking dirty on the phone with his wife. But that’s only 2 things over a 4-day conference.
I did HQS inspection training once upon a time and that definitely would have made it memorable!
Last year one of the maintenance managers got highly inebriated, made a bit of a fool of himself, and then fell down a flight of stairs.
They’re sending me to learn about safety, heating and cooling, and pest control, and I’m learning how to raise roaches and be a phone sex operator - although to be fair I did learn a lesson about responsible drinking and handrails, so I guess they got me on that one.
I agree I learened way too many cool facts for this post to be dull!