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Cockroaches as an Emerging Invertebrate Model in Bioscience Research: Gromphadorhina portentosa
by
, , , , and
Maria Vittoria Varoni
1
,
Filomena Dessì
1,
Elena Baralla
1,*,
Pier Andrea Serra
2
,
Gaia Rocchitta
2 and
Ana Maria Molina Lopez
3
1
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
2
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
3
Department of Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Universidad de Córdoba,14071 Córdoba, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2026, 16(11), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16111644
Submission received: 7 May 2026
/
Revised: 22 May 2026
/
Accepted: 26 May 2026
/
Published: 27 May 2026
Simple Summary
The use of animals in scientific research is strongly debated due to ethical concerns and stricter regulations, especially when vertebrates are involved. This has led the scientific community to search for alternative models in order to reduce animal use while still providing reliable results. In this context, cockroaches, and particularly Gromphadorhina portentosa (commonly known as the Madagascar hissing cockroach), are gaining attention as promising emerging invertebrate models. They are particularly suitable for experimental studies because they are easy to maintain in the laboratory, able to reproduce efficiently and have relatively long lives. In this review, we analyzed scientific studies published between 2010 and 2025 to evaluate the potential of cockroaches as alternative models in bioscience research. We describe their main biological features, summarize how they are currently used in experiments, and discuss their advantages and limitations. We also address humane methods for ending their life in research settings. Our findings suggest that cockroaches could play an important role in scientific and educational research, helping to reduce the use of vertebrate animals. However, further work is needed to standardize experimental methods and to achieve wider regulatory acceptance of these organisms.
Abstract
The increasing social, ethical and regulatory pressure on the use of vertebrates in bioscience research has promoted the development of alternative models. The use of invertebrate models is very common in basic research, where insects are used in many studies. Cockroaches such as Gromphadorhina portentosa have emerged as a promising model organism due to their ease of maintenance, breeding in laboratory conditions, longevity, physiological resilience, size, and ability to be manipulated for sample collection. Similarly, prior to 2010, the Periplaneta americana was widely used as a bioscience model and shares many of the attributes of the Gromphadorhina portentosa. The objective of our study was to carry out a review in which we described the biological characteristics and analyzed the application of cockroaches, and specifically Gromphadorhina portentosa, as an alternative model in bioscience research. To do so, we established the period from 2010 to 2025 to carry out the bibliographic search in international scientific databases, PubMed and Scopus, using only peer-reviewed scientific publications on cockroach applications in bioscience research. This review outlines the principal biological characteristics of cockroaches and evaluates their suitability as experimental models. Additionally, potential humane euthanasia methods are discussed. The most common applications of cockroaches in laboratory experimentation are described, and a critical analysis of their advantages and limitations as model organisms is presented. The analysis reveals significant potential for the use of cockroaches in preliminary and educational studies, as well as an opportunity to expand the diversity of species in scientific research, applying the principle of replacement of the use of animals in experimentation. The document highlights the need for protocol standardization and regulatory recognition for this species, offering an updated perspective on the state of the art regarding its rational incorporation into bioscience research.
