g. oblongonata, or p. vanwaerbecki? ...or Other?

[BoogleBug]

I bought 30 of these hissers as "gromphadorhina oblongonata" (or oblongata, which one is correct anyway?), but now I'm beginning to question if that's what they really are. It seems like anywhere else that mentions the oblongonata, they appear less black and more like regular hissers, only bigger... whereas the vanwaerbecki are big as well as almost solid black. Here are some photos of mine:


I call this one Biggie.


This one's Clefty. I presume he got his antennae molt caught in his old molt, and that's why he has that cleft. He is darker now; he had just molted a few hours before taking this photo, so most of the red is gone.


Ol' Flatty and a nymph, took this photo yesterday, same day about 30 nymphs appeared


Older nymph, I presume it's about to molt since there is white between the segments.


I think it's pretty when they have the white stripes

Thanks for any help!
~BoogleBug aka CockroachMonster

[edwbaker]

G. oblongonota is correct spelling.

I think George Beccaloni should be able to shed some light on the ID.

[Megaloblatta]

These are definitely G. oblongonota from the south of Madagascar.

One day I will complete my taxonomic revision of Madagascan hissing cockroaches which will enable them to be identified much more easily than now....

[BoogleBug]

Originally Posted by Megaloblatta

These are definitely G. oblongonota from the south of Madagascar.

One day I will complete my taxonomic revision of Madagascan hissing cockroaches which will enable them to be identified much more easily than now....

Can you please describe to me how you're able to tell them apart? I'm a sponge for roach knowledge and while I'm thankful for any answers to my questions, I'm also curious how I can learn to answer some of them myself!