About Cockroaches
When the conditions are right, preferably dark and damp, the cockroach can be found staking his claim on the food storage sites of homes and restaurants. This six-legged, winged creature can not only run and disappear in a flash but can be difficult to control in environments that provide the right resources to maintain its survival. Averaging 150 egg births per female, the cockroach can pose a great threat of infestation if offered the ability to thrive and multiply. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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The most common cockroach to the United States is the American Cockroach, brandishing long antennae, short wings and a flat, oval body. Colorings vary between brown and reddish-brown, with a tan colored head. Adults can average 1 to 2 inches in length and will fly if faced with the necessity. Females have a broader chest area than most males, enabling them to carry the eggs of the unborn larva. The adult cockroach has a lifespan of approximately 1 1/2 years.
History
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The history of cockroaches dates back to as many as 2 hundred million years ago, and except for the fact that they were much larger in size back then, there has been only subtle changes to their biology and makeup. Believed to have originated on the continent of Africa, cockroaches found their way around the world by infesting merchant ships during the middle ages. Even considered nuisances back then, ship captains used to hold what was known as a roach hunt, awarding prizes to those who killed and exposed the most cockroaches.
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Warning
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Cockroaches have been known to cause health concerns to humans in the cases of home infestations. When there are many cockroaches crawling along the floors and walls of a home, their feces becomes airborne once it has dried and hardened. Those susceptible to allergens can begin to have respiratory problems, which can develop into asthma. Another health risk associated with cockroaches is the spread of disease. Cockroaches walk through feces, raw meat and other unimaginable bacterial agents and can transfer these organisms to the food that you plan to eat. Therefore, humans have been known to contract illnesses as a direct result of cockroaches that are on the move.
Prevention/Solution
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One of the biggest factors in reducing the risk of cockroaches visiting your home is keeping it as sanitary as possible. Sticky drinks left on floors and countertops, exposed food left out overnight, dirty dishes in the sink for extended periods of time and crumb-filled pantries attract these pesky scavengers. Filling cracks in walls and floors can also be helpful in discouraging cockroaches from entering your home. And address leaking pipes and faucets quickly and efficiently.
Misconceptions
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Common misconceptions associated with cockroaches are that they only infiltrate homes that are dirty and in need of maintenance. This is not true. Cockroaches can enter even the most immaculate homes, by accident. Unsuspecting homeowners have been known to carry cockroaches into their home via cardboard boxes and grocery bags from retail stores that have a cockroach problem. This of course does not mean that there will be an infestation due to this unfortunate situation. And an immediate extermination will end the problem before it has a chance to escalate. But even if the meticulous homeowner does see a roach now and then, it could just mean that one entered from outside and is just making its way through. After all, if you don't supply it with what it needs to live, like clutter, dirt, dampness, and a food source, a cockroach won't want to stay.
Theories/Speculation
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It has long been speculated that cockroaches will outlive humans due to their ability to withstand extreme temperature changes. Scientists also theorize that in the event of a nuclear blast, cockroaches will be strong enough to handle radiation exposure five times the amount of human limitations. But what has not been established is what exactly the cockroach would nourish itself with if all of the usual food sources did not survive.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Jonae Fredericks
