They scurry across your kitchen floors and are breed in the nooks and crannies of your home.Cockroachesare pests that most people around the world despise. Many people are aware of the dangers cockroaches bring to households, spreading germs and allergens. They are some of the most common insects thatrequire pest control, Sandy exterminators will attest to that, alongside rats, and ants. Their resiliency, however, leaves many of us in awe – and even in bewilderment and frustration. It is said that even after a nuclear blast, cockroaches will outlive humans.
Are all cockroaches really as pesky as we think, though? How much can they take before being put down for good?
Diversity
There are over 4,800 known species of cockroach and less than 1% of them are the ones people find troublesome. The number of cockroach species also varies; cockroaches live in diverse habitats and come in all shapes and sizes. Roaches live in all continents of the world except Antarctica and are more common in the tropics. Some roaches also adapt to extreme temperatures, with one species found in Mt. Everest at 5,000 meters above sea level. In nature, roaches feed on dead bark and leaves, giving them an important role in ecology.
The variety of cockroaches makes them more versatile than the other pests. Cockroaches also employ different means of self-defense. Banana cockroaches rely on camouflage to avoid being spotted by prey while the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach makes a hissing noise to fend off any predators.
Resilience
With the sheer variety of cockroaches, they can adapt well and are hard to kill. These include the American and German cockroach, the most common species of pests. Here are thetop reasonswhy these roaches are hard to kill and are among the hardiest pests walking the earth.
- Cockroaches have been known to exist since the Carboniferous era, around 280 million years ago. They are experts at evolution and survival.
- Cockroaches can survive a week without their heads. Small holes around their bodies make them breathe air without a head. They eventually die because of thirst.
- Cockroaches can live underwater for 30 minutes by holding their breath to regulate water loss.
- As cold-blooded insects, cockroaches can survive a month without food, but can only last one week without water.
- An adult cockroach can run as fast as three miles per hour. This makes them spread germs very quickly.
How about Nuclear Blasts?
Cockroaches can survive nuclear blasts; however, they cannot survive high amounts of radiation. Despite this, cockroaches are still five times more likely than humans to survive a nuclear apocalypse.
Certain types of cockroaches are, indeed pests – specifically, the American and German breeds. On the other hand, there is a vast diversity of cockroaches living in different habitats around the world with important functions in ecology. Cockroaches, in general, are hard to put down because of their survival instincts and evolutionary capabilities.
To avoid a cockroach infestation at home, people should dispose of garbage properly, keep food sealed, and maintain proper ventilation for basements and crawl spaces.