Originating about 300 million years ago, the cockroach is an irksome pest that’s been hard to eradicate. While people are used to seeing them in their homes, there are over 4,600 species of roaches, and luckily, most of them live outside.
Due to an open circulatory system that allows them to breathe through little holes in their bodies, they can live for up to a week without a head. Studies have shown that cockroaches can hold their breath for almost an hour, while others, such as the Japanese cockroach, can live in temperatures as low as -7 Celsius. Some show a propensity for beer. In fact, the Delaware Health and Social Services Division suggests using bread soaked in beer as a roach trap. No matter their different traits, we commonly find the German or American inside our homes. Interestingly, the German cockroach changes its behavior when raised in a group, following the collective trends of the rest. The American cockroach, on the other hand, shows its own personality.
Cockroaches are often associated with a lack of cleanliness. While they thrive in unsanitary conditions, they can be found in the cleanest environments. Curiously, they meticulously clean their antennae for a creature found in the vilest places. Scientists have found that roaches that were prevented from self-grooming had a decreased ability to sniff out food.
Eradicating a cockroach population can prove to be a troublesome undertaking. They have shown an ability for collective thinking, communicating the best place to live with one another. Their sole focus is finding food, water, and shelter, which homes have aplenty. They are not picky when it comes to finding the perfect hideout, taking to spaces from the ceiling to cabinets, furniture, appliances, bathrooms, and more. They find the smallest, darkest, dampest spot to stay hidden in for however long it is needed and feel most comfortable when they are touching each other. They can survive for at least a month without food, allowing them to hide inside a home waiting for the next best meal. In times of a prolonged lack of food, they will turn to cannibalism to survive. Also, after coitus, they will also chew off each other’s wings, taking turns. In the wild, scientists found 99% of roach parents had chewed wings.
Perhaps the key to their longevity is their ability to learn. Biologists at Vanderbilt University trained the bug to choose between peppermint-flavored sugar water and vanilla-flavored saline. Over time, they were able to choose the peppermint sugar water consistently. Curiously, those trained in the morning and those at night had different experiences. Those trained in the evening chose the peppermint up to 2 days later, while those trained in the morning could not make the connection between smell and taste. The study found this to be the first example of an insect whose learning capabilities were controlled by its internal clock.
Getting rid of them yourself can be frustrating as they have developed resistance to most over-the-counter remedies. Advanced Termite & Pest Defense has the knowledge and years of experience in dealing with these insects to get rid of them once and for all. You can be on your way to a roach-free home with one phone call. Contact us today!
