Allie Ward

Oh, so this is the dorsal sclerite of the prothorax of an insect, but you can call it the pronotum if you're feeling casual.

Also, if you are a person who likes, say, heavy metal and cockroaches, you might enjoy the death's head cockroach, which is an easy one to rear, and it has red and black markings on its pronotum.

What if you got a roach pet?

What if it was your new bestie?

What if?

As someone who really loves bugs and has had a praying mantis pet, and I don't think I realize that about cockroaches, that they have an awning.

What are those little finger-like things that stick out from their butt?

The cersei?

Okay.

So these are the pointy things on their butts that look like two little tiny rump antennae, which can sense low vibrations or gusts of air.

Evolutionary biologists think these appendages help them escape predators.

So yes, sensory organs.

It's like you having a nose or eyes right on your hiney.

We hate to see you leave, but you can smell us as you go.

Can your butt do that?

I don't think so, baby.

I feel like you're mentioning praying mantis.

And if a praying mantis

lands on your shoulder, it's like, ooh, good luck, you know?

You see a cricket and you go, oh, cricket, get out of here.