Cockroaches are commonly thought of as one of the most disgusting pests you could find in your home. They are capable of spreading disease through their feces and multiplying quickly. Yet there are actually some fascinating facts about these pests that make them more than just a horrible nuisance.

• 1. Cockroaches are insects of the order Blattodea, which also includes termites. About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. There are only about four main species of cockroaches commonly known as household pests; the American, the brown-banded, German and the Oriental roach.
• 2. A cockroach can actually live without its head. Due to their open circulatory system, and the fact that they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments, they are not dependent on the mouth or head to breathe. A headless roach only dies because without a mouth, it can't drink water and dies from dehydration.
• 3. A cockroach will survive being submerged underwater for up to half an hour. Their ability to hold their breath helps to regulate their loss of water. Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to seven minutes. Their respiratory system is highly efficient, but they have no lungs. Instead, the insects draw in air through external valves called spiracles and transport the air directly to their cells via tubes called trachea. To stop breathing, they simply close the spiracles. One Australian team of scientists conducted a study that shows in low humidity the cockroaches held their breath longer, which confirms these insects adapt to lack of moisture in dry environments by adjusting their breathing habits. This ability to adapt to the conditions may be one reason why cockroaches are such a successful species, and why they have survived for so long.
• 4. Cockroaches can run up to three miles per hour, which means they can spread germs and bacteria throughout a home very quickly. They scurry around very fast especially when startled. Even large ones can run fast. The world’s largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan. The average cockroach can vary in size from ½"- 2" long.
• 5. The cockroach leg is highly efficient, so efficient in fact that scientists study its’ form and function as they develop prosthetic and robot applications. The insects' legs are providing new ideas for researchers designing the next generation of prosthetic legs for humans. This research benefits those who have lost limbs, including veterans returning from war. The mechanics of their springiness are the basis for the grip in a new mechanical hand. The aim, according to the head of Harvard's Biorobotics Laboratory, is to produce a hand that can "glide along objects until it wraps around them, just like a human hand lifting a coffee cup".
• 6. Newborn German cockroaches become adults in as little as 36 days. The German cockroach is the most common of all the species and this type has been implicated in outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people.
• 7. Cockroaches are particularly drawn to sugary, starchy foods. The American cockroach has oddly enough shown a marked attraction to alcoholic beverages, especially beer. They are likely attracted by the hops and sugar which are common ingredients in beer.

If you suspect you have a cockroach infestation or an invasion of any other type of pests a thorough home inspection and professional treatment is your best line of defense against further damage. Contact Spence’s Pest Control Company to schedule an inspection with one of your licensed professional technicians.