Cockroaches have been around for millions of years. To be exact they’ve been around for 300 million years. They were alive during the Carboniferous era. During the carboniferous era, primitive reptiles, spiders, millipedes, land snails, scorpions, and enormous dragonflies walked or flew alongside these early pests. Early roaches looked very similar to today’s house cockroach. They were about 3.5 inches long, which is similar to roaches that are found in tropical areas such as Hawaii. Roaches have evolved over the past 300 million years, but how have they stuck around for so long? The answer to this question is also what makes cockroach removal so difficult.
Cockroaches are very Adaptable
Cockroaches are incredibly adaptable and they always have been. They’ve been able to adjust to the changes of the earth and the inhabitants for millions of years. They adapted to the ability to live one month without food. The reason being is that cockroaches are cold blooded insects, which is why they are found in more humid areas.
Cockroaches can also live without their heads. Cockroaches have what’s called an open circulatory system. Meaning, they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments. They are not dependent on the mouth or head to breathe, and they only die due to thirst. Cockroaches can’t live without water for more than a week. They have apparently always had this system, or at least, from what we’ve discovered through studying their fossils.
Cockroaches can hold their breath for 30 minutes. Roaches close their ‘spiracles’ (the air holes on the outside of the body) and conserve air inside. Cockroaches will often hold their breath even if they aren’t underwater. Researchers still aren’t sure how they can keep holding their breath and stay alive. But, we do know why they hold their breath. If the environment is dry and hot, cockroaches will hold their breath. Researchers have concluded that they do this to limit the loss of moisture from their bodies in hot areas.
Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles per hour
Humans walk at about 3-4 miles per hour. Cockroaches are much smaller than us, but they can run the same speed as we walk. Cockroaches are about 3 inches long, and weigh around .12 grams. The secret to their speed is in their legs. All 6 legs have 3 knees each. That’s 18 knees altogether. With so many joints, their movement is precise and accurate. Very little movement is wasted, so they don’t slow down. If a roach needs to run faster, they can rise to their hind legs, and run like a human. Meaning, cockroaches can run from their predators, such as toads, frogs, mice, shrews, beetles, spiders, and other arachnids.
Cockroaches can eat just about anything
Cockroaches prefer foods that are more starchy, sweet, greasy, and they love meat products. But, again, cockroaches are not picky eaters. They enjoy cheese, leather, glue, hair, starch in book bindings, flakes of dried skin, decaying matter, wallpaper, and even beer. Studies have shown that American cockroaches are attracted to alcohol, and will drink it if they can have access to it. After cockroaches eat, food is broken down by enzymes present within the gastric caeca. The intestines are within the midgut, which collect nutrients. Roaches’ stomachs are very strong, and it is very rare for cockroaches to eat something and die. The only thing that we know of that upsets the roach stomach is pesticides. Even then, there are exceptions. In the mid 80’s exterminators used a sugary roach bait with slow acting poisons. But by 1993, it wasn’t working. The cockroaches were completely avoiding the bait, even though it was sweet. Studies showed that cockroaches had “fixed” their internal chemistry so the glucose tasted bitter.
Females don’t need males to reproduce
Female cockroaches can produce eggs with parthenogenesis which is a type of asexual reproduction. Insects, reptiles, and fish all will occasionally use parthenogenesis to reproduce when males aren’t present. Female cockroaches can asexually produce 16 eggs per day. Though female cockroaches are able to produce asexually, they only do it in the most severe conditions. Cockroaches are social insects, and prefer to have company. But, if there are absolutely no males available, they will reproduce.
Cockroaches can survive radiation
Out of a group of thousands of roaches, it was discovered that 10 percent could survive Hiroshima level radiation rays after 30 days of exposure. The reason being is cockroaches are simple organisms with fewer genes that might develop mutations. Their cells divide far slower than human cells. As mentioned before, roaches are able to change their internal chemistry. In the event of nuclear war, cockroaches would be able to divide their cells slower and adapt to the world around them, making cockroach removal an ongoing process.
Cockroaches can withstand up to 900 times their body weight
Cockroaches have extremely strong and flexible exoskeletons. The exoskeleton is the hard shell that surrounds a cockroach body. The exoskeleton is made of a protein called chitin. The dictionary defines it as “A fibrous substance consisting of polysaccharides and forming the major constituent in the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.” Chitin is comparable to keratin in mammals. Keratin is what makes up our hair and nails. Their shells can withstand the hardest stop or any rolled-up newspaper. They can also flatten themselves to fit into tight spaces and crevices making for an easy getaway. Similar to lizard’s scales, cockroaches have to molt their shells 10-13 times a year. Certain pesticides prevent them from being able to shed, and it squishes them within their current shell.
Here at Green Pest Management, we know the frustration of finding one of these creepy critters within your home. We are happy to help by offering the best cockroach control near you. We guarantee that we will be able to get rid of these unwanted guests in your home. Give us a call at 302-777-2390 for a free quote.
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