Summary
Madagascar hissing cockroaches carry tiny mites that scurry over them cleaning up bits of food and mold. Deep Look shows a surprising partnership where both animals seem to benefit.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
The mites that live on a hissing cockroach eat leftover food and mold off its body, helping keep the roach clean. In return, the mites get a safe home and meals. Two very different animals living together in a way that helps both is called a partnership.
- What job do the mites do for the cockroach?
- What do the mites get out of living on the cockroach?
- Why is this a partnership that helps both animals?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: mite, partnership, clean, benefit.
Try it: Draw a cockroach with tiny mites cleaning it. Write how each animal helps the other in this partnership.