What is the genus of the hissing cockroach used in Steven Kutcher's Starry Night?

• A. Blattella
• B. Gromphadorhina
• C. Periplaneta
• D. Blatta

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is recognizing the taxonomic group known for the familiar hiss—the Madagascar hissing cockroach. This insect belongs to genus Gromphadorhina, which includes large, wingless roaches that hiss by forcing air through their spiracles as a defense and display. That combination of size, wing absence, and the distinctive hissing behavior is characteristic of this genus, setting it apart from other common cockroach groups. For example, Blattella refers to smaller German cockroaches, Periplaneta to the large American cockroaches, and Blatta is an older genus name used for various species; none of these share the same distinctive hiss-capable morphology and typical wing condition of Gromphadorhina. So, the genus is Gromphadorhina.