Roaches, a “terrifying” creature for many, are found in almost every household. Despite being so familiar, you might not know much about the creature that shares your space.
Unheard Mysteries About Roaches
Even if an atomic bomb explodes, roaches will continue to thrive!
For instance, did you know these facts?
1. Many believe that no creature is more repulsive than a roach. Out of over 4,000 roach species, about 30 types inhabit our homes. House roaches range in length from 1.5 cm (German roach, Blattella germanica) to 3 cm (American roach, Periplaneta americana). However, they are still small. A relative in tropical regions can grow up to 9 cm long. In prehistoric times, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, roaches could reach lengths of up to 0.5 meters.
2. Roaches have incredible resilience. Scientists report that roaches can survive in environments contaminated with radioactive materials, such as those found in atomic bomb blast zones. Only roaches and scorpions can endure such toxic conditions. Interestingly, if you cut off a roach’s head, it can still breathe and move, indicating it remains alive for several days before dying.
3. In 2007, a study conducted in Japan revealed that roaches possess memory, enabling them to develop conditioned reflexes and even be “trained” (like performing tricks). Researchers trained the roaches to salivate when stimulated, similar to Pavlov’s dogs a century ago, or to perform certain actions in exchange for sweet water. This conditioned reflex is linked to memory, a trait previously thought only to exist in mammals.
4. A familiar insect, the termite, bears a striking resemblance to bees or ants in appearance. Termites are social insects with organized colonies and strict hierarchies. They use saliva to construct complex nests. Surprisingly, termites are closely related to roaches. DNA analysis confirms this connection. The most primitive termites, found in Northwestern Australia, closely resemble roaches.
5. The heaviest roach in the world: the Giant Burrowing Cockroach from Australia weighs up to 30 grams.
6. The smallest roach on the planet: This title belongs to a roach species from North America known as Attaphila fungicola, which measures only 3 mm in length—slightly larger than a fire ant.
7. The roach with the largest wingspan: The Megaloblatta blaberoides species, found in Central and South America, has a wingspan of up to 185 mm.
8. The noisiest roach: A species from Madagascar produces a long, hissing sound.
9. Roaches can play dead: You can test this in reality. If you hit a roach with a shoe, it will lie still as if dead, but if you observe for a while, you might be surprised.
10. Roaches can also learn: An interesting study by Japanese scientists showed that roaches have the ability to learn and memorize information.
11. Roaches are asexual: This means that roaches can reproduce without the need for a male. However, they are prolific, typically laying 40-60 eggs in a single reproductive cycle. Some females mate just once but can remain pregnant for life.
12. There are approximately 4,500 known roach species worldwide, but the actual number of undiscovered species may be 2-3 times higher.
13. Many people believe that roaches are the only creatures that can withstand the effects of nuclear weapons. However, roach expert George Beccaloni argues that this is not entirely true; while they have stronger resistance than humans, many other insect species surpass them in resilience.
14. Some studies indicate that roaches can survive for several days after being decapitated.
15. In extreme weather conditions, roaches may resort to cannibalism or consume their own secretions to survive. Although they are pests in your kitchen, scientists assert that only 1% of roach species are harmful.
16. Roaches can run at speeds of up to 5 km/h; if they weighed the same as humans, that speed would translate to 700 km/h, faster than any of our current supercars. Moreover, they can change direction 25 times per second, an impressive feat.
