Cockroaches Can Survive Headlessly
One of the most impressive facts about cockroaches is that they breathe through spiracles on the sides of their body. Due to their unique body anatomy, they can survive up to a week without their head. They succumb to dehydration because without a head; they cannot drink.
cockroaches Can Live Without Food for One Month
In addition to surviving without their head for about a week, they can also survive for up to one month without food. However, they can only survive for about a week without water and begin to see the first signs of dehydration after about three or four days. This is why you will find them in humid and moist areas of the home.
Cockroaches Can Withstand The Cold
Cockroaches can withstand freezing temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a point where they succumb to the cold, but this means that they can survive inside your refrigerator, but probably not in your freezer.
Cockroaches Can Hold Their Breath
If you are thinking about drowning them, they can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes. They hold their breath often to help regulate the loss of body fluids.
Cockroaches are Fast!!
You know that a cockroach can run fast, but you probably did not know that its athletic abilities allow it to run up to three miles an hour. A one-day-old baby, the size of a speck of dust, can run as fast as its parents.
Cockroaches Strong and Resilient
Cockroaches have hard exoskeletons that protect them while being hit with up to 900 times their body weight. They can also compress themselves and fit into small spaces, making it even more difficult to get rid of them.
Cockroaches love beer
The American cockroach is attracted to alcohol. They especially like the hops and sugar in beer.
Cockroaches are Older Than the Dinosaurs
It is believed that the cockroach originated over 280 million years ago. They arose during the Carboniferous era, long before the first dinosaurs would begin to appear. They were about 3.5-inches long, and some cockroaches in tropical regions can still grow to that length today.
There Are Over 4,000 Species of Cockroaches
It is estimated that there are approximately 4,000 species of cockroaches around the world. The most common is the German cockroach. In the United States, you also might find the American cockroach, oriental cockroach, and brown-banded cockroach.
Cockroaches Mature in About a Month
The baby cockroach grows into a fully-functioning adult in about 36 days. This creates a short breeding cycle and is one of the reasons why they are so difficult to get rid of in your home.
Cockroaches Can Live Over a Year
Let's go back to the headless cockroach for a minute. When the cockroach loses its head, it no longer has access to its brain. They do have brains, and they do use them, but much of their activity depends on the nerve tissues in their body. These reflexes continue to do their job, and a headless cockroach can stand, react to touch, and move. They behave much like any other cockroach that still has a head.
Cockroaches Can Live Over a Year
The different species of cockroaches have varying life spans. Depending on the sex and type of cockroach, they can live anywhere from a month to over a year. The male German cockroach can live for about 100 days, but the female can live for about 200 days. American cockroaches are some of the most long-lived and can live for up to a year.
Cockroaches Spend Much of Their Day Resting
Roaches are probably resting when they are not running across your floor and creeping you out when you turn on the lights. Cockroaches spend about 75% of their time resting.
How to Get Rid of Roaches Naturally
As you can see, cockroaches are quite interesting creatures, but that still doesn't mean that we like to have them around. Diatomaceous earth and boric acid powder are two of the most effective ways to rid yourself of cockroaches. Both solutions are safe for pets and children.
Boric acid is a product of processing Borax, a natural compound. It generally kills cockroaches in about 14 days. Boric acid kills the cockroach when they ingest it as part of communal grooming. This means that when a cockroach walks through it accidentally, it will carry the powder back to the nest, and the other cockroaches will help clean it from them. It kills them by damaging their stomach and nervous system.
Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized skeletons of ancient sea creatures and works in about seven days. Diatomaceous earth kills cockroaches by piercing their exoskeleton and causing all the body fluids to leak out. This causes them to die of dehydration.
Both these products are used similarly. You should sprinkle a light powder and areas where you have seen the insects. Once it is applied, you should not be able to see the powder. They will walk around any visible piles.
You should place it underneath the sinks, around baseboards, in drawers, cupboards, and anywhere else you have seen them. Depending on the product, you should start to see a reduction in the population is about 7 to 14 days.
Now, you know a few fun facts about cockroaches that might make you appreciate them a little more. You also know some natural methods for getting rid of them. Cockroaches are difficult to kill because of their remarkable capabilities, but they are no match for boric acid and diatomaceous earth.