Cockroach Facts

It is said that roaches evolved on the Earth, millions of years ago. According to archaeological evidence, earliest fossils that resemble cockroaches, belonged to a period that existed before 350 to 400 million years. So these insects have been thriving on earth, surviving all adverse conditions, since time immemorial. It is said that they may also survive nuclear blasts. Even though, this is one of the cockroach facts that is not proven, studies show that these insects have a much higher radiation resistance, as compared to humans.

Roaches belong to the order Blattaria in class Insecta. There are more than 4000 species and among them, around 30 species are found to dwell in areas with human habitation. These insects are one among the common household pests, but, you may be surprised to know that only four among the 4000 species are categorized as major pests.

Interesting Facts About Cockroaches

• Roaches have flat and broad bodies. They have small heads with underlying mouth parts. These insects have two eyes, two antennae and six legs. While some of them have two pairs of wings, some others have a single pair or no wings at all.
• The exoskeleton in most of the cockroach types are found to be either black or brown in color. But, some of the tropical species may sport a shiny exoskeleton in red, green or yellow color.
• You may sometimes come across a cockroach that looks like an albino. It can be one which has shed its exoskeleton. These insects shed their exoskeleton, many times a year, as they outgrow these structures and will have a white body with black eyes. They retain their usual shell covering within eight to ten hours of shedding.
• Roaches have white blood that flows freely in their body. In other words, they don't have blood vessels meant for carrying blood. Even the heart of this insect is like a simple tube that pumps blood to both anterior and posterior parts of the body.
• Cockroaches have different sensory organs on their body. While antennae help them in finding food, sensing smell and for finding their way, the sensory organs on the body enable them to sense touch.
• They have compound eyes that help them in detecting motion. The eyes of this insect has 4000 lenses that help them to see all directions, at the same time.
• The claws on the legs of roaches help them in movements. Even the hair on the legs are said to aid them in sensing touch.
• You might have heard that a cockroach can survive without its head. It is partly true, as the brain of this insect is not in its head, but, is spread throughout the body. Only a small blood clot occurs as a result of severing the head of this insect. But, they may die within ten days, due to lack of water, as they lack mouth parts for drinking.
• Most of these insects are nocturnal and flee from light, except the Asian ones. These insects like damp and warm locations, while some of the tropical species try to stay in hot locations. They may also leave behind an offensive odor.
• As roaches carry microbes on their bodies, it is possible that they transmit diseases. In some people, presence of cockroaches may trigger allergic reactions too. So, their infestation must be prevented and controlled.
• These insects are believed to spend most of their time (around 75%) resting. It has been observed that while resting, roaches keep their antennae in upward direction, that too in a 60 degree angle from each other.
• While some people consume roaches in different ways, these insects are also used in folk remedies. Cockroach tea is used for treating dropsy, whereas, those fried with garlic are used for curing indigestion. In some regions, oriental species are used in dried and powdered form for problems with the urinary tract. Crushed roaches are used as poultices in wounds.
• Cockroaches have a few records of their own. They can survive for more than one month without food. They can hold their breath for more than forty minutes at a stretch. They may also run a distance of more than three miles in sixty minutes. These insects can also swim.
• One common household cockroach is the American cockroach. They are the largest among the species that infest households. While most of them are omnivores, there are some wood-eating species that feed on wood. Others feed on anything and everything ranging from left over food, paper, glue, clothes, paint, leather products, soap, wood and feces.
• You may have the notion that cockroaches do not make sounds. This is not true. While the Madagascar hissing cockroach is famous for its hissing sound, some others too produce chirping noises. Hissing cockroaches are also raised as pets. It is also one of the largest species of roaches. The Australian giant burrowing cockroach is the heaviest and the largest one in the world.

Hope you find the above said cockroach facts interesting and amazing. There are numerous other facts about these insects and if you are very keen about knowing more about these insects, you may conduct an in-depth study.