Creepy Crawlies: The Disgusting Habits of Cockroaches
If there's an insect that nearly everyone can agree on being repulsive, it's cockroaches. American cockroaches, German cockroaches, smokey brown cockroaches and especially giant breeds like Madagascar hissing cockroaches can be the stuff of nightmares - there's a reason there are horror movies about the pests. They move fast, they have an unpleasant appearance and seeing just one or two can be a sign of an infestation - but that's not enough to explain why we find cockroaches disgusting. What is it about cockroach behavior and habits that we're so repulsed by? Let's dive into what makes a roach a roach.
Cockroaches Eat Anything and Everything
One of the most characteristic traits of cockroaches is that they'll eat pretty much anything they can get their hands on (or feet, in this case). Since they're omnivores, cockroaches can and will eat both plants and animals, but they most commonly eat decaying matter and food scraps left around. But their diet doesn't stop there. Cockroaches will eat just about anything that is derived from a plant or animal. This includes crumbs left on the ground from dinner, the chicken breast you're cutting but walked away from briefly, cardboard boxes left in the basement, a leather jacket in your closet and books on your shelves. Cockroaches will eat feces, glue, hair, soap, fingernail trimmings and even their own shed skins.
To make matters worse, cockroaches have been known to live up to a month without food and a week without water. This means that if you clean your home after seeing a cockroach or two, they may, unfortunately, be lying in wait for it to start being messy so they can start chowing down again. These eating habits combined with their dietary range are part of the reason they're so good at infesting a home or business and sticking around for a long time.
They Seem Not As Afraid of Us as Other Insects
Of course, the eating habits of cockroaches aren't the only reason we find them repulsive. Part of why people hate cockroaches is that they seemingly are not as afraid of us as we are of them - and while this isn't technically true, it can definitely feel that way with a roach in your home. Cockroaches are curious features due to their need to feast. They need to scour out new food sources and will often investigate your home in the daylight to find food, unlike other insects that remain out of sight and out of mind.
Roaches have multiple defense mechanisms that allow them to be more adventurous in the home of a potential threat like us. Their speed is well-known, with their ability to move at a rapid 3 mph. By contrast, the average human running speed is a bit over 7 mph. Depending on the species, cockroaches can also bite, hiss, release a foul odor and even kick away predators. They also have a notoriously tough shell that makes them resilient when attacked.
They Breed in Filth
Many people suggest that a cockroach is a sign of a filthy home, but cockroaches can breed in even the cleanest of homes, provided that there's an area that's ideal for their mating and living habits. Cockroaches prefer warm, dark and humid areas, making basements a perfect home for them as they're often used less than other rooms in the house. The ample amounts of dust, dirt and debris left in basements also make great nests for roaches as they can feed off of the detritus for months at a time. So, while a roach might be in search of delicacies in your kitchen, chances are they're coming from somewhere else.
In these piles of filth, cockroaches lay an ootheca - a roach egg case. Each ootheca contains somewhere between 13 and 40 eggs, and depending on the breed, it can take roaches anywhere from a few months to half a year to mature. It's not uncommon for a female roach to produce six generations of offspring within a year, meaning that one ootheca can result in hundreds of cockroaches overtaking a property. Cockroaches live between a year and a year and a half as well, so unlike flies and other insects that only live for a few days, out of sight is not out of mind, and a roach that scurries away is carrying on the remainder of its life somewhere in your home.
They Carry a Multitude of Diseases
Finally, the reason that human beings are programmed to find cockroaches disgusting is that they carry a plethora of diseases. Diseases spread by cockroaches vary, but they have been known to carry streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella and even polio. This is caused by their eating habits - roaches will eat infected feces and decaying plant and animal matter that harbors these diseases, and instead of succumbing to them, they spread them to other animals. When cockroaches eat food that has been left out, they may spread diseases to the food via their droppings or saliva, passing them on to humans.
How To Handle Cockroaches
So what can be done about these disgusting pests? Knowing the habits and behaviors of cockroaches is important, but it's not enough to keep your home pest-free. You may want to learn about their life cycles and various species as well to gain more information about how to handle them, but ultimately, if you're dealing with a roach infestation, it's best to call in the professionals.
At MosquitoNix®, our licensed professionals are trained to deal with roach infestations. We'll work with you to design a solution that's best for your home and schedule and will quickly address the threat, targeting key areas where cockroaches breed and thrive. With green, all-natural pest control techniques, we can eliminate the pests on your property and keep them away. Don't let roaches ruin your life - call us today.
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