Buzz
I may be at risk of being stereotyped as the bug expert, but since I’ve also covered a variety of other topics, I think I’m safe. Anyway, the “talking points about spiders” discussion suggests there’s a genuine interest in these kinds of lists.
Let’s begin with some basic facts about cockroaches: They belong to the order Blattaria and are made up of five distinct families. According to entomologists, there are around 4,000 cockroach species. The World Health Organization lists ten of these as pest species. Though most cockroaches are small, some, like the Australian Giant Burrowing Cockroach (also known as the Rhino Roach), can grow over 80mm (3+ inches) long and weigh 35 grams, with some reaching up to 50g. As with many insects, the female cockroach only mates once and uses that sperm to fertilize eggs for her entire lifetime. Some other interesting facts: they can survive for over a month without food but only around a week without water. Though they are nocturnal, they aren’t afraid of light—they’re simply trying to escape humans. Cockroaches can thrive just about anywhere, adapting to nearly any environment.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m calling this a list of ‘talking points,’ though it’s probably not the best idea to bring these up at a dinner party. You might end up being stared at quite oddly. Also, since the points are in no particular order, I’m simply numbering them.
3. Flying Cockroaches
I have a feeling that the only thing worse than finding roaches on the floor (or in your bed) is having them fly around the room! While not all members of the Blattaria order have wings, as shown in the picture above, the ‘Megaloblatta longipennis’ can extend its wings to a remarkable 185 millimeters. This fascinating creature is native to Central and South America.
2. Cockroaches and Global Warming
Research has revealed that cockroaches pass gas approximately every 15 minutes. Remarkably, even after they die, they continue to release methane for up to 18 hours. On a global scale, insect flatulence is believed to contribute about 20% of all methane emissions, making cockroaches significant contributors to global warming. My studies suggest that termites and cows also play a major role in methane production due to their own digestive processes.
1. Lying on Its Back
In the wild, a cockroach usually meets its end in the stomach of a bird or another small animal that preys on it for food. However, in our homes, many cockroaches perish simply because they cannot flip themselves over after falling. In nature, where there’s foliage and debris to cling to, they have something to hold on to, but in our homes, with their smooth floors, the poor creature often ends up stranded. Additionally, some insecticides work by causing muscle spasms and disrupting motor coordination, which can cause the cockroach to fall onto its back. Unable to regain control of its muscles, the cockroach dies upside down.
4. Global Cockroach Species
The word ‘cockroach’ is thought to originate from the Spanish term ‘cucaracha’, with the first recorded English use as ‘cacarootch’ in 1624. True to its global nature, its name transcends borders. Here’s a glimpse of how it’s translated around the world:
A) Bulgarian: ???????? f B) Chinese: ?? (zhang1 lang2) C) Dutch: kakkerlak m D) Hebrew: ??? m (jook) E) Japanese: ???? (gokiburi) F) Mongolian: ???? (joom) G) Russian: ??????? m (tarakan) H) Swedish: kackerlacka I) Turkish: hamam böce?i J) Urdu: ?????
5. Sound Production
The renowned Madagascar Hissing Cockroach is thought to be the only insect that uses its respiratory system to produce sound. Most insects generate sound by rubbing parts of their bodies together (though some beetles expel air through their protective plates, which doesn’t involve the breathing passages). Hissing cockroaches make two distinct sounds: one when disturbed, and another during male confrontations. Because of their size (reaching 5-8 cm) and lack of wings, they are often featured in films. They’re also popular as pets, and from personal experience (we had a tank in our office a few years back), I can attest they are quite fascinating. Check out the live roach cam here.
6. Living Without a Head
It’s true, cockroaches don’t need their heads to survive. To put it in perspective, humans rely on their heads for three main functions: (a) we breathe through our nose and mouth, and this process is regulated by our brain (although we could use a respirator if necessary). (b) Losing our head would cause severe blood loss, leading to dangerously low blood pressure, which is needed to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout our bodies. (c) We eat through our mouths, and without one, we’d quickly starve. Now compare this with cockroaches: (a) they breathe through tiny openings called spiracles located all over their bodies. Their brain doesn’t control this. (b) Since insects don’t have mammalian blood pressure, they don’t ‘bleed out’ in the same way. (c) As cold-blooded creatures, they can survive on a single meal for up to a month, especially in cooler temperatures. Aside from the risk of infection, a headless cockroach can survive for quite a while.
7. Asthma Triggered by Cockroaches
Cockroach allergies were first recognized and confirmed approximately 50 years ago. They are very real and can be extremely dangerous. The allergens come from cockroach droppings and particles of decaying cockroach bodies, which become airborne and are inhaled into the bronchial tubes. Sensitivity to this dust can trigger an allergic reaction in the bronchial tubes, known as asthma. Scientists believe the rise in cases is largely due to urban children spending more time indoors and being constantly exposed to these allergens. Some studies suggest that every urban home harbors anywhere from 900 to 330,000 insects. Research also indicates that the higher rates of asthma in the African-American community are linked more to living conditions than to genetics. Unlike seasonal allergies, cockroach-induced asthma occurs year-round and can only be diagnosed through skin or scratch tests.
10. Cockroaches and Radiation
There’s a persistent myth that cockroaches would be the only survivors of a nuclear bomb. While I’ve not found conclusive scientific proof that this has been directly studied, there’s a logical reason behind why this might be true, though not only for cockroaches. Living cells are most vulnerable to lethal radiation while they’re dividing (which is why radiation therapy works on cancer cells). A cockroach’s cells divide only during its molting cycle, about once a week. So, for roughly 48 hours of the week, cockroaches are ‘radiation-sensitive.’ Humans, like most other animals, have blood and immune stem cells that are constantly dividing. In the case of a nuclear bomb, all humans would perish, while only a quarter of cockroaches would be affected, leaving a sizable population. Interestingly, Mythbusters tested this idea and found that cockroaches can survive ten times the amount of radiation it takes to kill a human—though the flour beetle outperformed them, surviving 100 times the lethal human dose. At that level, no cockroaches survived.
9. They’re Incredibly Fast!
Studies show that the fastest American Cockroach has been clocked at nearly 2.0 miles per hour (75 centimeters per second). While it may not be able to outrun a large animal, in relation to its body size, that’s remarkably fast. If we scale it up, a roach the size of a cheetah would be able to sprint at 50 miles per hour—only slightly slower than the world’s fastest land animal. Their speed is partly due to the exceptional coordination between their eyes, antennae, and legs, enabling them to react quickly.
8. Let’s Do the Math
The common German Cockroach (Blatella germanica), a relative of the larger flying roach mentioned in item #1, is perhaps the most widespread pest cockroach. It has a life cycle of about 100 days, with a typical lifespan of 6 months. In the image above, you can spot the ootheca (the egg case), which holds around 30 to 40 eggs. A female can produce between 6 and 8 of these egg cases during her lifetime, leading to 180 to 320 new offspring. If just 10 of her offspring survive to become breeding females (which is a conservative estimate—more like 100), the population can explode into thousands in only a few months.
