Male dubia with white worm looking things??

[Azymondias&Ryn]

I cleaned out my dubia roach containers today and found a weird male dubia. It looks like worms coming out and as shown in the video, occasionally they’ll move. I looked it up and it might be prolapse or smth? I’m not too sure and wanted your opinions. I isolated him in a container by himself. He’s the only one with that. And I am also aware about the bad condition he is in regarding his wings, I’ve just moved my colony to a bigger container since they outgrew the last one. Any ideas??

 

[AHBD]

That's not a female giving birth ?

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

That's not a female giving birth ?

I didn’t think so because the wings were too long to be a female and I thought they gave birth in a more organized manner like where they’re all lined up and straight, not coming out from all sides. Also I don’t think the eggs move like that…? I could be wrong though, just what I thought.

 

[AHBD]

Did you watch these come out, and what does it all look like now ?

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

Did you watch these come out, and what does it all look like now ?

No I did not watch them come out and they still look the same as in the picture.

 

[ChileanTaco]

I had some (female of course) showing their ootheca - immediately, with the title I first thought of that, but no, this here looks different.
For me this looks very much like parasites, but can't identify which. Somewhat similar looking for wasps is Xenos vesparum. Also reminds me of maggots. Could you do a close-up of one of these?

 

[NickAVD]

I've never seen anything like that either. I think @ChileanTaco is right, it looks like larvae parasitizing inside a roach.

 

[ChileanTaco]

@Azymondias&Ryn

If you're interested in what it is, you could separate the roach and look what develops, or kill it together with the parasites and take it apart. (I'd do so, either this or that.)
In most cases, if an internal parasite is visible, it's near pupation.

What is parasitizing it might have also caused the malformed wings, because of nutrition taken away by the larvae and/or the parasite working like this (e.g. limiting the host's mobility, or making the host a less appetizing prey).

​

 

[AHBD]

Good discovery, and probably smart to get it out of the vicinity of the rest of the dubia.

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

I had some (female of course) showing their ootheca - immediately, with the title I first thought of that, but no, this here looks different.
For me this looks very much like parasites, but can't identify which. Somewhat similar looking for wasps is Xenos vesparum. Also reminds me of maggots. Could you do a close-up of one of these?

This is the closest I’ve managed to get otherwise the phone won’t focus. It’s so gross 🫣

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

@Azymondias&Ryn

If you're interested in what it is, you could separate the roach and look what develops, or kill it together with the parasites and take it apart. (I'd do so, either this or that.)
In most cases, if an internal parasite is visible, it's near pupation.

What is parasitizing it might have also caused the malformed wings, because of nutrition taken away by the larvae and/or the parasite working like this (e.g. limiting the host's mobility, or making the host a less appetizing prey).

​

I’m thinking about waiting for a bit. But if I do decide to kill it how would you recommend to do it? Put it in a freezer? Also are there any other precautions I should take and is there a possibility I’d have to terminate my entire colony?

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

My friend also said it might be appendiculatum but I couldn’t find much on it. Any thoughts ?

 

[ChileanTaco]

Thanks! This looks to me now quite different, less like maggots and more like a shedding problem - like the outer layer of his exosceleton is peeling away or wasn't developed well.

Regarding killing:
Reliably killing an insect isn't that easy as "head off" won't work well. Better: Freezing, or Isoprophyl (rubbing) alcohol. I would not recommend freezing for larger insects, however.

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

Thanks! This looks to me now quite different, less like maggots and more like a shedding problem - like the outer layer of his exosceleton is peeling away or wasn't developed well.

Regarding killing:
Reliably killing an insect isn't that easy as "head off" won't work well. Better: Freezing, or Isoprophyl (rubbing) alcohol. I would not recommend freezing for larger insects, however.

But should it be moving ?

 

[ChileanTaco]

My friend also said it might be appendiculatum but I couldn’t find much on it. Any thoughts ?

Do you mean Leidynema appendiculatum? Those are nematodes.
Or do you mean the reproductive organs? If in proper health, they do not look like this.

But should it be moving ?

What do you mean exactly, what should be moving?