30+ Facts About Roaches

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Creep into the world of roaches with these facts about roaches. Uncover the secrets of their survival, diverse species, unique behaviors, and their role in the ecosystem.

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Roaches, or cockroaches, are super tough insects that have been around for millions of years. They can live almost anywhere, from tropical forests to cities. Did you know some roaches can go without air for up to 40 minutes and can even live without their head for a week? That’s pretty wild! They’re also speedy, able to run super fast to hide from people. Even though they might seem a little yucky, roaches are interesting creatures and are very good at adapting to all sorts of places.

Facts about Roaches

  1. All cockroaches have strong legs that allow them to run very fast — up to 3 miles per hour — when they need to escape predators or get away from danger.
  2. A cockroach can live for a week without its head
  3. Cockroaches spend 75% of their time resting and can withstand temperatures as cold as 32°F.
  4. A cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes
  5. The world’s largest cockroach is the Australian giant burrowing cockroach.
  6. Cockroaches often leave chemical trails in their feces. 
  7. Baby cockroach can run almost as fast as its parents
  8. Cockroaches have top-heavy bodies.
  9. Newborn German cockroaches become adults in as little as 36 days
  10. They have been around for hundreds of years, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon. 
  11. The females carry their eggs until they’re ready to hatch. 
  12. Female cockroaches can reproduce without males
  13. The first cockroach fossils look just like modern cockroaches — they were probably brown or black and had wings.
  14. The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach will make a hissing sound, an indication that they are scared or attracting a mate.
  15. The average life span of an adult cockroach is one year.
  16. Cockroaches are incredibly tough
  17. Even a guillotine won’t stop a cockroach.
  18. The average cockroach has six legs and two antennae, but there are also many other species of cockroach with different numbers of legs.
  19. Cockroaches breed quickly.
  20. Roaches chew sideways and they will eat nearly anything including book bindings, glue, and even feces.
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  1. There are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches worldwide, including 30 species that like to live in our homes. Check out our guide to the common types of cockroaches in NC!
  2. Cockroaches moult their exoskeleton.
  3. When cockroaches need oxygen, they take in air from these breathing holes and move it through their tracheae so that oxygen diffuses into the cells where it’s needed. Then they exhale carbon dioxide through their spiracles again.
  4. While the majority of cockroach species have wings, many are not good flyers and will often use their feet for traveling and escape.
  5. Cockroaches often do not make much noise.
  6. Cockroaches can run fast and spread disease
  7. They are thigmotropic, which means that they like to be touched, hence the reason they like to squeeze into small cracks and crevices.
  8. Cockroaches can be trained
  9. There are bacteria that live in roaches & help them survive.
  10. Cockroaches have been around for more than 280 million years, which makes them one of the most successful species to ever exist.
  11. Roaches rest for 18 hours a day, and with them being nocturnal this makes a sensible sleep cycle.
  12. Cockroaches bleed white blood, the next time you squash a roach you will notice!
  13. The American cockroach loves to drink alcoholic beverages, specifically beer and sugary mixed drinks.
  14. The name cockroach comes from the Spanish term cucaracha, which derives from the Latin blatta, “an insect that shines the light.” 
  15. There are many types of cockroaches.
  16. A group of cockroaches is called an intrusion. 
  17. The world’s largest roach is six inches long
  18. Depending on the breed of cockroach, most can survive perfectly happily without food for a month or more. 
  19. Cockroaches eat literally everything
  20. The world’s largest roach is six inches long. These insects may play dead when they feel threatened. They will even lie on their back, with their legs in the air, to really sell it.
  21. Cockroaches are one of the few animals that can survive a nuclear explosion.
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Are you looking for more fun and engaging facts to share with your family? Check out these other posts for more facts!

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