10 Facts About Cockroaches You Didn’t Ask For
We know enough about cockroaches to understand that they shouldn’t be kept around. However, there are some pretty intriguing facts about cockroaches that can explain some of their idiosyncrasies. From the mysteries of how they materialise out of nowhere, crawl out from drain covers unscathed, to the probability of running into a headless cockroach, we have 10 facts about cockroaches that you might have preferred not to know. Let your curiosity get the better of you here!
1. Cockroaches can squeeze through cracks half their size
This might answer the question of how cockroaches emerge seemingly out of thin air in your home! Cockroaches are covered by an exoskeleton formed by hardened plates (sclerites). Due to their collapsible nature, roaches can squeeze through the smallest openings by compressing their bodies by up to 60 percent. This allows them to fit into gaps, in addition to their tolerance for compressive forces of about 300 times their body weight.
2. Cockroaches can hold their breath for over half an hour
40 minutes, to be exact. With cockroaches’ penchant for moisture, their survival instincts in water are certainly not something to be surprised about. Apart from their buoyancy, which keeps them afloat, cockroaches can hold their breath for extended periods as they rely on external respiratory holes for oxygen. Closing these spiracles voluntarily can prevent both dehydration and drowning by regulating the flow of oxygen and water vapour.
3. Cockroaches can live without water for one week
While cockroaches can regulate their loss of water, they are not insusceptible to thirst. Like all other pests and living things, water is vital to cockroaches. It supports their daily functions such as respiration and digestion. Cockroaches can only survive for about one week without water.
4. Cockroaches can live without food for one month
Conversely, cockroaches can survive a long time without food. This is because they are cold-blooded insects that require minimal sustenance to persist. The science behind this lies in the fact that cockroaches are able to adapt their temperature to preserve energy, thus making food a secondary concern. Moreover, cockroaches are opportunistic feeders that feast on just about everything — so depriving them of food, in the first place, isn’t easy.
5. Cockroaches can live a week without their heads
That’s right — the timeframe of survival for a headless cockroach is one week, and the main and most likely cause of death? Thirst. As mentioned, cockroaches utilise spiracles for air, rendering their heads unnecessary for the basic function of breathing. Nonetheless, the site of decapitation simply gets sealed off by clotting. And guess what — the severed head can survive for hours after, too.
6. A female cockroach can have up to 300 babies in its lifetime
While egg production varies for each species of cockroach, most female cockroaches can lay up to 50 eggs a time (in one ootheca, or egg case). Over the course of their one-year lifespan, this equates to an average of 300 young per female cockroach.
7. Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles per hour
3 miles may not seem like much for the average human, but don’t be quick to dismiss the figure. This speed is pretty remarkable for an insect this small. Adrenaline aside, when a cockroach gets surprised, it can dart off at a distance of up to 50 body lengths in one second. This shows that while outrunning a cockroach is one thing, catching it is another.
8. Cockroaches are millions of years old
Although multiple sources have cited cockroaches as being older than dinosaurs, fossil evidence indicates that they should be around 125 to 140 million years old, making them likely coexisting with dinosaurs before the latter went extinct.
9. Cockroaches have survived many major events throughout history
Cockroaches have survived many major changes as one of the oldest insects on earth. They have endured mass extinctions like the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event (that wiped out the dinosaurs), climate changes such as the ice age, as well as numerous natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Some also suggest that these resilient critters can withstand large amounts of radiation following a nuclear blast.
10. Cockroaches are now used for search and rescue missions
As cockroaches continue to adapt to human environments, we’ve also discovered ways to leverage their strengths and capabilities to our advantage. One of the latest innovations here in Singapore features Madagascar hissing cockroaches being fitted with cameras and sensors for search and rescue missions. Casually referred to as “cyborg cockroaches”, these roaches help to inform front-line personnel of individuals requiring assistance in emergency situations. In terms of size and behaviour, these Madagascar hissing cockroaches are quite unlike the Australian and German cockroaches we see scampering around trash cans in our day-to-day lives.
Speak to Us at Star Bugs for Total Cockroach Eradication
Don’t learn about these cockroach facts the hard way. Whether you’ve stumbled upon cockroach debris, sensed one rummaging through your home, or suspect a widespread infestation at work, confronting roaches head-on is crucial to halting their spread. Don’t risk dealing with 300 potential cockroach offspring for the rest of the year. Instead, reach out to us for effective pest control methods that eliminate their presence!
Contact Star Bugs now.