Most homeowners are aware of the health and safety risks associated with cockroaches, including the allergies and asthma triggered by them and the germs and bacteria they have been known to spread.
However, what may not be as widely known is the fact that cockroaches are a very interesting and resilient pest. They exhibit some very odd behavior and survival tactics and spend 75% of their time resting. They can even withstand temperatures as cold as 32 degrees Fahrenheit!
Measuring 4 cm in length, the American cockroach is one of the largest peridomestic cockroaches. This cockroach is prevalent throughout Florida, especially in commercial buildings.
The American cockroach is considered a major pest in the United States and spreads infection in all houses across the country. Other common names of this roach are the water bug, the Bombay canary or the palmetto bug.
It is astonishing to note that these cockroaches are omnivorous and feed on cosmetics, milk, plants, soap and even fermenting foods! These cockroaches are also notorious for eating up sweets and books, glue and even wallpaper paste!
Did You Know?
Evidence suggests that American cockroaches were introduced via ships from Africa in the early 1600s.
4. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Feeding on decaying organic matter and forest floors, the Madagascar hissing cockroaches have no wings and move very slowly when compared to other cockroach species. They attain lengths of up to 7 cm from their horn to antennae and measure up to 2.5 cm wide.
Very unlike other cockroach species, the females here give birth to a healthy live young baby while males are aggressive and use their horns to fight with other rival male cockroaches.
The diet of Madagascar hissing cockroaches includes fruits, vegetables and other arthropods. These cockroaches get their name from the hissing sounds that they make while fighting, mating or alarming other members of the colony to danger situations.
Did You Know?
It is astonishing to note that these cockroaches are even kept as pets by people all around the world. Although the Madagascar hissing roaches are mainly found only in Madagascar, they are welcomed by people with open arms!
3. Death’s Head Cockroach
The Death’s cockroach has been named so due to a skull-shaped marking on its head and these roaches grow to be over 2 inches long and over 1 inch wide.
These cockroaches have very large appetites, which definitely makes sense as they are some of the biggest cockroaches in the world. These insects are omnivores, meaning they eat a little bit of everything, including fecal matter or wood.
These roaches are found on forest floors, hiding in leaf matter and rotting wood throughout Central America and South Florida. These cockroaches are a non-climbing species, they cant climb their glass/plastic tanks to escape. Although adults have wings, they cannot fly and are often seen gliding from all surfaces.
Did You Know?
The death’s head cockroach has an enormous appetite and eat half their body weight in one sitting!
2. Megaloblatta Longipennis
With a wingspan of up to 20 cm, this is the world’s largest winged cockroach and is found in Peru, Ecuador and Panama. The average cockroach of this species measures from 0.24 in-3 in (0.6-7.6 cm) in length.
A preserved female in the collection of Akira Yokokura of Yamagata, Japan, measures 97 mm (3.8 in) in length and 45 mm (1.75 in) across.
1. Giant Burrowing Cockroach
Weighing in at a hefty 30 g, Giant Burrowing Cockroaches are the heaviest cockroaches in the world. Their lifespan is very impressive – they can live up to 10 years.
Native to Australia, these cockroaches have a very smooth and shiny brown skins. They do not have any wings and live in burrows deep in the soil and here the females take care of their infants. They use their stout, spiny legs to dig burrows up to a metre deep into the soil, with a chamber at the end.
These cockroaches are considered very important recyclers in northern Queensland.
