A beautiful cockroach...with a sad story to tell!

When you think of cockroaches, the word "disgusting" or something similar is probably the first thing that pops in your mind!

Well, check out this cute cockroach I just found out about....And by cute I mean..short of cute. It's a cockroach after all, so don't expect any miracles 😂

https://youtube.com/shorts/WS62eEEMXuI?feature=share

Now, the title of the video is a bit misleading. This cockroach is not extinct but more on this later.

The individual in the video above is a cockroach of the species Simandoa conserfariam, commonly known as the Simandoa cave roach. And it is considered by many insect hobbyists as a very desirable species to own due to its looks and the fact it.... lsqueals like a mouse 😂

The Simandoa Cave Roach is not likely to be lost to culture as it exhibits several remarkable characteristics that roach hobbyists will love. It has a glossy black abdomen with bumblebee yellow stripes. The wings are a metallic bronzy-olive color with small flecks of metallic gold. The black pronotum (shield area) behind the head is glossy black with a perimeter of yellow. The legs are very spiky and best of all, these roaches emit little squeaks like mice when they are disturbed. source

Just look at this beauty:

source

And this is where things get interesting!

The species was first discovered in a cave in the Simandoa region and nowhere else. The researches took a few samples upon the discovery and started breeding it in captivity for experiments and shit and eventually it reached the hands of hobbyists who continued breeding it for its looks.

Few years later, the researchers revisited the cave only to find out it was destroyed, as it was mined for boxite 🥲

Since then the species hasn't been found anywhere else so it is considered to be extinct in the wild. It only survives in captivity.

And that's pretty much the sad story of Simandoa conserfariam. At least it was somewhat saved due to its good looks!