In addition, each hisser can distinguish other hissers by their hisses. Males are territorial and defend a territory which may contain several adult females. A male may hold a territory for several months, leaving only to feed. Males are aggressive toward each other, but not towards females or nymphs. Females like to be together and don't fight among themselves.
Hissers live on the forest floor probably in rotten logs and leaf litter, eating fallen fruit.
Like most cockroaches, they are nocturnal and hide in leaf litter during the day. Males have large humps on the thorax and fuzzy antennae, while females have only small bumps, smoother antennae and a more elongated but heavier and larger body. Male combat involves ramming each other with their horns, using their abdomens to flick, push or thrash, hissing all the while. The male which is larger and hisses more usually wins. Hang around on the outer perimeter of territories.