Princisia vanwaerebeki, commonly known as the vibrant hisser,[1] is a large, flightless species of
hissing cockroach in the family
Blaberidae, and the only member of the
genusPrincisia.[2][3] It is
endemic to southeastern
Madagascar,[2][3] and sometimes seen in the pet trade.[4]
It is named in honour of two people:
Karlis Princis for the genus name and Daniel van Waerebek, a
helminthologist in
Antananarivo, for the specific (species) name.[3][5] It is a very large species, growing between 5.6 and 10 cm (2.2 and 3.9 in) in length. Larger specimens are usually male.[4] Females usually live up to three years.[4] It is one of several species of cockroach sometimes infected by Blabericola migrator, a parasitic
alveolate.[6]