Interesting facts about cockroaches
1. A cockroach can live without a head for a week
After decapitation, the cockroach's body systems continue to work, and in general, it can live indefinitely, if not for one problem. Without a head, it cannot drink and dies of thirst. However, all its organs continue to work, even if the cockroach has lost its head.
2. Cockroaches have two pairs of wings
One of them is dense leathery elytra, with which the cockroach covers the body for protection. This is what we see when we look at a cockroach from above. For flight, the cockroach uses a thin pair of wings that fold under the elytra.
3. A cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes
This is one of the qualities that helped these little creatures survive on Earth despite major shifts and changes in the climate and environment. Scientists believe that cockroaches appeared more than 280 million years ago.
4. Three-quarters of a cockroach's life the insect is at rest
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We are used to seeing cockroaches running quickly around the apartment, but these little creatures spend almost three-quarters of their lives in a calm state. They are one of the laziest creatures in nature.
5. The cockroach runs at high speed
When a cockroach does decide to move its limbs, it can run at a speed of 4.8 km per hour. If a cockroach were the size of a cheetah, it would run at a speed of 80 km per hour, which is slightly less than this majestic hunter.
6. Cockroaches are omnivores
Cockroaches can eat almost anything that gets in their way, and all thanks to the powerful jaws hidden in the mouth organs. Interestingly, cockroaches only need to eat once a month to survive.
7. A cockroach is almost impossible to catch
Try to catch a cockroach and see how difficult it is to do. There are small hairs that catch the slightest movement of air caused by the approach of animals and people on the legs on the cockroaches. This, combined with a fast nervous system, allows cockroaches to develop reflexes and responses measured in hundredths of a second. High-speed cameras recorded that the cockroach changes direction 25 times per second.
8. Cockroaches will survive an atomic blast
Researchers have found that cockroaches and scorpions are the only organisms that can survive an atomic bomb explosion. It is believed that cockroaches are able to withstand high exposure to radiation due to the fact that they have a slower cycle of cell division, and cells are most sensitive to radiation when they are dividing (as in humans).
9. In a few months, thousands specimen will appear from one cockroach.
Cockroaches breed very quickly and in large numbers. So, for example, the average life expectancy of a cockroach is about 6 months. The female can carry about 30-40 eggs in her sac called ootheca, and during her life she can produce 6-8 such sacs, which is equal to about 180-320 offspring. If at least 10 of their born cockroaches are females, then in a few months you will already have thousands of cockroaches.
10. The biggest cockroach
If it seems to you that the cockroach that you saw in your apartment was very large, you may not have seen truly large specimens. The size of a cockroach can vary from 1.5 - 3 cm to 9 cm in length. Luckily, the biggest cockroaches live in rainforests and don't inhabit houses. Scientists believe that 250 million years ago, before dinosaurs, cockroaches were about 50 cm long.
Cockroaches are hated everywhere. What could be more disgusting than a cockroach? Even the most persistent people cannot help but twist a grimace of disgust when they see these insects with whiskers.
There are about 4000 species of cockroaches in the world and about 30 of them live in our homes. Despite their relatively small size and our diligent efforts, these creatures have remarkable endurance.
How do cockroaches manage to survive and go unnoticed? Here are some interesting facts about cockroaches.
