Since you want to know more about cockroaches, we have put together this FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Something worth noting is that there are many local myths and legends associated with these pesky insects. We do not intend to deny or confirm such stories because they are mostly irrelevant (some might be true though!).
1. What is a cockroach? A cockroach (from Spanish “Cucaracha”, an outcome of the phonetic transformation of ‘cock’ in English) is an insect in the order Blattodea. There are about 4,000 species out there worldwide. In Europe, they may come in three general forms: Blaberus (North America), Orientalis (Asia/N and NE Africa and Europe), and germanica (Europe). Blaberus and Orientalis are closer to each other in terms of appearance, while germanica is mostly differentiated from the previous by its larger size. These three forms can be distinguished by having a shiny brownish-black exoskeleton which has reddish-brown margins; yellowish legs (especially at the ends) with long dark spines on their femora; long antennae with 3 – 4 times longer terminal segments than the basal segments (except for Blaberus) and two pairs of wings with 1/4 length being covered by tegmina (each pair held like they were folded). The most important characteristic, however, is that cockroaches have cerci.
2. Do cockroaches fly? A lot of people think cockroaches don’t fly, but in fact, they can. If you watch a cockroach under the microscope it will be apparent that its wing has a width smaller than tegmina so it cannot generate enough lift to get up off the ground. To make matters worse, its body is not streamlined at all; it doesn’t even have a pronotum. But don’t underestimate them. They are good fliers and may use their wings for gliding techniques when running away from predators or just traveling long distances. The pattern of flight depends on circumstances (the wind, etc.) and species, but generally, they jump into the air by spreading out both pairs of wings; then glide with their front wings still opened. After that, they close their wings and try to keep them steady. It’s not a strong flight like in most insects but it gets the job done.
3. Are cockroaches beetles? Although roaches are clearly part of the insect order called Phylum Arthropoda, there is some confusion as to whether they are part of the beetle family (Coleoptera). The fact that we think blattodeans resemble cockroaches has more to do with our perception than with actual similarities between them. Cockroaches were around long before beetles did, so this notion may change eventually when we learn more about them.
4. Can I suffocate cockroaches? This is not a myth; it is possible to suffocate a cockroach if you put it in a jar and keep the lid on. However, this isn’t easy to do because of two reasons. First, most species can survive without air for over a week so they won’t die from lack of oxygen immediately. Second, it’s really hard to seal the deal since roaches are incredibly smart when it comes to making holes; they will find any opening and squeeze through them, such as going through those tiny cracks under your roof or even using their saliva as an adhesive to stick their bodies together (Yes folks! They produce something called ‘dipulla’ that functions like glue).
5. Are cockroaches asexual? Cockroaches have never been observed to reproduce without mating at least once, and most species mate several times with new partners before they get pregnant. Some of them even require sperm from more than one male to get the job done. So cross-fertilization is definitely part of their reproductive cycle. However, female roaches can store sperm for months even if they don’t need it, so if a couple of these insects meet but just happen to not find each other attractive enough to copulate (due to hormonal issues), there’s no problem in those few cases where the female still gets pregnant by her stored sperm. This process is called ‘parthenogenesis’. It may seem that the female roach is somehow able to produce her own sperm, but it’s actually just a question of activation. The point is: Asexual reproduction in cockroaches does not mean parthenogenesis.
6. How do cockroaches die? Cockroaches are protected by their exoskeleton which means that they don’t have any pain sensation and may suffer more from life-threatening injuries than other animals would. The most common cause of death is dehydration or starvation. If you were to find one dead on your kitchen floor, you could conclude that it has died of natural causes since there is no evidence of external intervention (at least until someone comes along and steps on them). But if this happens early in the morning and you have a few of them around, you might want to investigate further. It is possible that the one on the floor has died due to dehydration while others are still struggling and need your help. If they all die at once or in large numbers without any injury or evidence of disease, it’s likely that they were sick and died from an infection or toxin. This behavior has been observed during experiments in which cockroaches were exposed to high amounts of radiation.
7. Why do roaches live near humans? We may think our houses are safe havens but this is only because we associate them with safety and don’t realize how uncomfortable the conditions really care for these animals (especially considering their physiology). Roaches like dark places so basements provide a warm, dark shelter where they can reproduce safely. They also like water and your kitchen sinks meet this criterion as well. A lot of food is available near our dwellings (especially the scraps from our tables) so it only makes sense that cockroaches would be drawn to them.
8. Can roaches get on my pets? Roaches are attracted to light so if they see an opportunity, they will run toward it in order to find a way into your house. Some people say that roaches are drawn to dogs or cats but this is not true; they are just looking for good sources of food when they see those creatures moving around outside at night time. Once inside, roaches will go after anything edible (including dead insects and any source of starch) but they will not attack your pet.
9. What is the world’s biggest cockroach? The largest species are Oriental Roaches ( Blattella Asahina ) which can get up to 3 inches long, followed by Australian Cockroaches ( Perisphaerus australis ). But some scientists claim that there are even bigger species lurking in the depths of South America. These giants have yet to be fully discovered or classified so their size is a mystery at this point.
10. How do cockroaches survive nuclear bombs? There are many myths surrounding this topic. Some people think that they can go without food for a month and others say it’s the radiation itself that makes them grow bigger. But when asked about these issues, actual entomologists usually agree on one thing: It is unlikely that cockroaches will be able to withstand nuclear bombs. This is largely due to their physiology which does not give them any special powers of survival under extreme conditions. For instance, cockroaches do have an exoskeleton but it is made out of chitin (the same kind of stuff as crustacean shells) which means the structure of their bodies will not withstand changes in pressure or temperature.
11. Will cockroaches die in the winter? This depends on the species in question. Tropical cockroaches like American Cockroaches and Brownbanded Cockroaches will die when temperatures drop or if the climate gets too dry. But some other species can endure daytime temperatures below freezing and even snow. This does not mean that they are resilient to cold climates, though. They will only survive for a short period of time before dying if they get stuck outside during a winter storm. So it’s important to keep your home clean from both family pests and weather conditions if you want to avoid this situation in the future.
12. Why do cockroaches die on their back? It is very common for dead roaches to be found on their backs in many homes. This usually happens when they are dying or already dead. But there is also a special “death pose” that cockroaches assume before they die where they will flip onto their back and stay like this until rigor mortis sets in. At the same time, the enzymes stored in their bodies change which can lead to unpleasant odors after death but it’s a natural process that has little to do with human intervention.
13. Can I eat a cockroach? You cannot survive by eating only one type of food throughout your entire life so why would you attempt such an experiment with cockroaches? They could come in handy during survival situations (as long as you do not step on them first) but that’s about it. Unless you are desperate for food, there is no reason to eat cockroaches.
14. Do cockroaches fart? People who have pets (or young children) will probably find this question hilarious. But the fact of the matter is that we know next to nothing about these insects because they cannot be studied in laboratories. Many scientists believe that roach farts do exist and could potentially smell bad just like human flatulence does. This theory is based on one observation made by a scientist from Thailand who claims to have caught several specimens trying to pass gas while sitting in his palm. So now, all we can do is debate whether or not their farts will stink.
We hope you liked our Cockroach FAQ – #1. Stay tuned for Cockroach FAQ – #2 where we answer questions such as: Where is a cockroach’s brain? Where in the world are there no cockroaches? Should I vacuum cockroaches? And more!