Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches (Gyna Centurio)

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches (Gyna centurio), also known as Chrome Porcelain Roaches, are one of the prettiest cockroach species you'll find in the hobby. Native to West and Central Africa, adults sport a smooth, elegant shape with beautiful splashes of cream, maroon, and brown across their pronotum and wings—genuinely attractive insects that look nothing like the pest roaches people imagine when they hear "cockroach."

They're part of the Gyna genus, a group known for their clean, porcelain-like appearance and live-bearing reproduction. What makes centurio particularly appealing is the combination of stunning adult colouration and easy care requirements. They're prolific breeders too—females can produce up to 200 nymphs from a single brood, so colonies can grow quickly once established.

One important thing to know: adult Gyna can both climb and fly. They're not aggressive about it, but when startled or when the enclosure is opened, adults may take short flights. This means escape-proofing your setup is essential. Nymphs, however, cannot climb or fly and spend most of their time burrowed in substrate—you won't see much of them until they mature.

A Glimpse

• Origin: West & Central Africa (Cameroon, DRC, Gambia region)
• Scientific Name: Gyna centurio
• Common Names: Centurion Roach, Chrome Porcelain Roach, Gambia Roach
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
• Size: 2.5-3.5cm (females slightly larger)
• Temperature: 24-30°C (75-86°F)
• Humidity: 40-60% (air), moist substrate
• Rarity: Moderate
• Favourite Foods: Leaf litter, fruits, vegetables, protein supplements

Overview

Gyna centurio belongs to the family Blaberidae and is sometimes known by its old name Gyna sp. "Gambia" from before it was formally described. They're one of several Gyna species in the hobby, alongside relatives like G. lurida (the classic "Porcelain Roach"), G. caffrorum (Chrome Roach), and G. capucina (Pink Roach).

What distinguishes centurio from its cousins is its particular colour pattern—the cream, maroon and brown markings give them a distinctive look that some keepers describe as "chrome-like." They're considered one of the easier Gyna species to keep and breed, being less fussy about humidity than some relatives and tolerating slight crowding better than others.

Like all Gyna, they're ovoviviparous—females retain eggs internally and give birth to live nymphs rather than depositing oothecae. This is always satisfying to witness, as you'll suddenly discover tiny nymphs appearing in the substrate without having to worry about incubating egg cases.

Appearance and Behaviour

The contrast between nymphs and adults is significant. Nymphs are dark-coloured, somewhat plain, and spend nearly all their time buried in substrate—you'll rarely see them. Adults emerge with their characteristic smooth, porcelain-like wings displaying those attractive cream, maroon, and brown patterns.

Physical features:

• Adults: Smooth, graceful shape with cream/maroon/brown patterned wings
• Females slightly larger and broader (up to 3.5cm) than males
• Males more slender, active, and prone to flying
• Nymphs: Darker colouration, wingless, burrowing
• Flattened, oval body shape typical of Gyna

Behavioural traits:

• Adults can climb smooth surfaces—escape prevention essential
• Adults can fly—short, somewhat erratic flights, especially when startled
• Nymphs cannot climb or fly—dedicated burrowers
• Generally shy—prefer to burrow and hide
• Males more active and visible than females
• Most active during evening/night hours
• Voracious eaters, especially fond of fruit

The flying ability is the main thing that sets Gyna apart from many other pet roach species. It's not constant—they won't be buzzing around the enclosure—but when disturbed or when the lid is opened, adults may launch into brief flights. Higher temperatures make them more likely to fly. This is something to be aware of but shouldn't put you off; with proper precautions, escapes are easily prevented.

Basic Care

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches are relatively forgiving compared to some Gyna species, making them a good entry point into the genus.

Temperature: Keep them between 24-30°C (75-86°F). They can survive at room temperature in UK homes, but growth and breeding slow significantly below 24°C. Warmer temperatures (26-30°C) encourage faster development and more prolific breeding. Be aware that higher temperatures also make adults more flighty.

Humidity: Air humidity of 40-60% is fine—they don't need tropical conditions. However, the substrate should be kept moderately moist (not wet). Create a moisture gradient with one side damper than the other. Avoid over-moistening; they don't like swampy conditions.

Ventilation: Good airflow is important. Use well-ventilated enclosures—but ensure all ventilation holes are too small for adults to squeeze through or are covered with fine mesh. Our screw-in air vents work well when properly sized.

Substrate depth: Provide at least 5-8cm of substrate. Nymphs are dedicated burrowers and will spend nearly all their time underground. Adult females also burrow, especially when gravid. Only adult males regularly hang about on the surface.

Escape prevention: This is critical. Adults climb and fly, so you need:

• A secure, tight-fitting lid with no gaps
• A barrier of petroleum jelly or silicone grease around the top rim
• Caution when opening the enclosure—consider doing so inside a larger container or room where escapees can be recaptured

The good news: even if one escapes, they cannot survive UK household conditions and won't establish as pests.

Feeding

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches are omnivorous and not particularly fussy. They're actually quite voracious eaters compared to some roach species.

Primary foods (always available):

• Hardwood leaf litter (oak, beech)—essential staple
• Decaying wood

Supplementary foods:

• Fruits: They love fruit—banana, apple, orange, peach, berries
• Vegetables: carrot, courgette, sweet potato
• Protein: fish flakes, fish food pellets, bee pollen, dog/cat kibble
• Beetle/insect jelly—clean, doesn't spoil, well-received

Feeding tip: Don't use deep food bowls—nymphs may not be able to access them and could starve. Scatter food on the substrate surface or use very shallow dishes. Remove uneaten fresh food within a day or two to prevent mould and mite issues.

Avoid citrus fruits, which may be harmful, and be careful not to overfeed protein, as Gyna can resort to cannibalism if conditions become crowded or food-stressed.

Habitat

A medium-sized, well-ventilated enclosure with a secure lid is essential. Plastic containers work well for breeding colonies; glass terrariums are fine but require extra attention to escape prevention.

Key requirements:

• Secure, escape-proof lid (absolutely essential)
• Petroleum jelly barrier around upper rim
• Deep substrate (5-8cm minimum) for burrowing
• Generous layer of leaf litter
• Cork bark pieces for climbing/hiding
• Moisture gradient—damper on one side
• Good ventilation (but escape-proof)

For a starter colony, a container around 4-10 litres is sufficient. As the colony grows (and it will grow quickly), you may need to upgrade or split the population.

Note on crowding: Gyna centurio tolerates crowding better than some relatives, but severe overpopulation can cause problems including sudden die-offs. Monitor colony size and be prepared to thin numbers if needed.

Substrate Mix

A moisture-retentive substrate that allows for burrowing is essential.

Recommended mix:

• Coconut fibre (coir) as a base
• Organic topsoil or peat moss mixed in
• Generous layer of hardwood leaf litter on top
• Cork bark pieces for surface hides

Keep the substrate moderately humid but not wet—damp to the touch, not soggy. Create a moisture gradient by misting one end more than the other. The damper areas are where females prefer to give birth.

Avoid sand, as it's not suitable for this species.

Breeding

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches are prolific breeders—one of their main appeals. They're ovoviviparous, meaning females retain eggs internally and give birth to live nymphs.

Breeding characteristics:

• Females give birth to live nymphs (no egg cases to incubate)
• Broods can be huge—up to 200 nymphs per female
• Females don't usually give birth to all nymphs at once; they produce several smaller litters over time
• Females likely only produce one internal ootheca in their lifetime
• Nymphs mature in approximately 4-6 months
• Adults live 4-5 months (females tend to live longer than males)
• Males typically mature before females

Breeding tips:

• Keep temperatures at the higher end (26-30°C) for faster breeding
• Ensure females aren't stressed—stress can cause them to abort their developing ootheca
• Avoid severe overcrowding
• Provide plenty of food—they eat a lot, and hungry roaches may cannibalise
• Maintain moderate substrate moisture for successful births

Important timing note: Because males often mature before females and adults don't live very long (a few months), there can be timing issues in small colonies where males die before females are ready to mate. Starting with a decent number of individuals (10-15+) helps ensure you have males and females maturing at overlapping times.

Comparing Gyna Species

Several Gyna species are available in the hobby. Here's how centurio compares:

Gyna centurio is one of the easier and more forgiving species in the genus—a good starting point if you're new to Gyna.

Who Are These Roaches For?

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches suit:

• Keepers wanting beautiful display roaches
• Anyone interested in live-bearing cockroach species
• Those who want prolific breeding potential
• Keepers comfortable managing climbing/flying species
• People looking for an entry into the Gyna genus

They're not ideal if:

• You want a "set and forget" species with no escape risk
• You're uncomfortable with insects that can fly
• You want constantly visible roaches (nymphs burrow, adults are shy)
• You can't maintain warm temperatures (breeding slows significantly below 24°C)

Centurion Porcelain Cockroaches offer a great combination of beauty and breeding potential. Yes, the flying ability requires some extra precautions, but with a properly secured enclosure, they're perfectly manageable. The reward is watching those stunning adults emerge and eventually witnessing females produce swarms of tiny live nymphs. For keepers ready to step beyond basic roach species, they're an excellent choice.