Cockroaches

Cockroaches are primitive insects whose origin extends back at least 300 million years and are thought to have originated in the tropical and sub tropical areas of Africa. The advent of travel and international trade has brought about the spread of cockroaches to most countries in the world.

Although worldwide there are over 3,000 species of cockroaches, only half a dozen have attained the status of pest species inhabit decaying plant material, dark damp areas such as caves, and beneath the bark of rotting trees.

Cockroaches are nocturnal and are seldom seen in great numbers during daylight hours, but it is generally accepted that for every cockroach seen there are at least a further ten hidden away in out of sight harbourages. Most common species have wings, but tend to crawl rather than fly. When disturbed, cockroaches have the ability to scurry away with remarkable haste.

Simply Prevention

Common harbourage include cracks and crevices, dishwashers, electrical motors and switches, ovens and almost any warm, moist area where food is available. Tell tale signs indicating cockroach activity include the presence of egg cases, regurgitation marks, faecal pellets, odour and cast of nymphal skins.

Infestation occurs when cockroaches are carried into premises on raw materials or packaging or gain entry to the premises through drain covers, ventilation openings and under doors.

Inside, remove the causes of dampness by fixing leaking pipes & fridges, and the humidity caused when dishwashers and clothes dryers are not adequately ventilated. Eliminated entrances and hiding places by sealing cracks and crevices around doorframes, cupboards, pipes, tiles etc. Improve sub floor ventilation if inadequate.

Outside, garden beds should be at least 1 metre from the building. Place fine mesh over vents and into brick wall weep holes and keep the perimeter of the building dry.

Facts About Cockroaches

The world's largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan.

6 -- Number of legs on a cockroach
18 -- Number of knees on most cockroaches (at least!)
40-- Number of minutes cockroaches can hold their breath
75 -- Percentage of time that cockroaches spend just resting (how lazy can you get?)
5,000 -- Number of species of cockroaches worldwide
280 million+ -- Years ago that cockroaches are thought to have originated (during the Carboniferous era.

Some female cockroaches mate once and are pregnant for the rest of their lives (bummer).

A cockroach can live a week without its head. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can't drink water and dies of thirst. Cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour. (Hey, it's no marathon, but it's not bad.)

Young cockroaches need only a crack as thin as a dime (about .5mm wide) to crawl into. Adult males can squeeze into a space of 1.6mm or the thickness of a quarter. Pregnant females need the most space to hide: 4.5mm or a space as tall as two stacked nickels.

A cockroach heart is nothing but a simple tube with valves. The tube can pump blood backwards and forwards in the insect. The heart can even stop moving without harming the roach.
Roaches can live without food for a month, but will only survive a week without water.

Most species of roaches live in the tropics. But roaches live all over the world, including the North and South Poles. Pest cockroaches can withstand temperatures as cold as 32°F (0°C), but will die if the temperature goes much below that. In extremely cold places, however, they survive by moving in with humans. (Hey, quit hogging the covers!)

Cockroaches can climb walls because they are equipped with a set of little claws on their feet designed for that very purpose.

Crushed cockroaches can be applied to a stinging wound to help relieve the pain.

Sniff, sniff...oh, it's just Uncle Leo. Roaches use their feelers, or antennae, as noses. Their sense of smell is so great, they recognize family and friends by their distinctive odors.

Female roaches attract male roaches by producing pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals that make the female roach smell REALLY good to the males roach.

Some female cockroaches incubate their egg cases in their bodies until they are ready to hatch. These babies stay with their mothers a day or two after they are born.

Male cockroaches transfer sperm to females in a "gift-wrapped" package called a spermatophore. Some males cover the package in a protein-rich wrapping that the female can eat to obtain nutrients to raise her young. Delicious!