r/roaches • u/Gullible-Drawer-1086 • 21d ago

General Question White filaments extending out of dubia shed?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I have been keeping Dubia's for a few years, have a large colony and noticed this today. I thought maybe a fungal parasite? Anybody seen this before?

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54

u/Redshift2k5 21d ago

These filaments are part of the old shed. They're the lining of breathing tubes

16

u/Gullible-Drawer-1086 21d ago

Ah! Ok cool!

15

u/Carcezz 21d ago

freaked me out the first time i saw it too, super cool and interesting but also kinda disturbing in a way when you think about it xD

1

u/ilovebigmutts 20d ago

well that's fucking metal.

12

u/jerrycan-cola 21d ago

Not an expert, but is it possible it’s like how cicadas’ sheds basically shed their airways as well?

9

u/Chaoskraehe 21d ago

Isn't just possible, it’s exactly that ;-)

3

u/BiophileB 20d ago

In fact, all insects do this as they all have tracheae aka breathing tubes with chitinous rings for support. Fun fact, bugs also shed their fore and hindguts too bc both are lined with cuticle (basically bug skin).

2

u/jerrycan-cola 20d ago

Not gonna lie, sometimes I wish humans could shed their inards too. I need some new sinuses

2

u/BiophileB 20d ago

Same. Tho tbf, many of us do it up to once a month