COCKROACHES! There are a few people in the world who do not cringe at the thought of those vulgar insects. It wouldn’t be so horrible if they kept to their own space, but no… they have to invade ours. There are, however, a lot of misconceptions about cockroaches that many of us have taken as truth, yet in actuality, they are entirely made up. Others, however, are very true.
Here is a list of the top ten myths about cockroaches that are both interesting and quite disturbing:
A Cockroach can live without its head – TRUE
If King Henry the 8th married a cockroach, she just might have survived beyond the ax… well, for a little while. Cockroaches can live up to, and possibly beyond, a month after being decapitated. A cockroach doesn’t require a mouth to breathe. They breathe through spiracles, which are located on each segment of the body. Also, cockroaches don’t need much food to survive, so their body simply uses what it has previously stored up.
Do Cockroaches bite? – TRUE
Cockroaches are omnivores. What does that mean? They can and will eat anything they can, which includes humans! Don’t get too worried yet. Keep in mind just how large their mouth is. Tiny bug, tiny mouth, right? There are very few species of cockroach that could actually break the skin of a live human. (Dead on the other hand, well.) Cockroaches typically only eat things that have rotted or have been sitting around a while. And if one did happen to bite you, it’s doubtful you would feel it or even know.
Can Cockroaches survive a nuclear explosion? – FALSE
In the unfortunate event that a nuclear bomb exploded, you would be happy to know that cockroaches won’t survive. They’re quite resilient to many things, but a nuclear explosion is not one of them. Though, to their benefit, they will survive a tinge longer than humans. A cockroach can survive up to a 125 percent higher dosage of radiation than humans. They will die… eventually.
Light causes Cockroaches pain – FALSE
Cockroaches are crafty little creatures. They know most of their predators venture out during the daytime like birds, reptiles… humans. Light to them represents danger, that’s why they’re primarily nocturnal. If they can be seen, they’re more apt to be eaten or face the shoe. When the light appears, it’s their signal to hightail it to safety.
Envelope glue attracts cockroaches to lay eggs. – FALSE
This is one of the more bizarre urban legends floating around. It usually starts with a secretary having licked a few dozen envelopes. She realizes one day her tongue has swollen up. She goes to the doctor to find out what happened, only to find that she has been incubating a cockroach egg sack in her tongue.
First off… EW! Whoever thought up this was really trying to scare the dickens out of someone in their office. Although cockroaches do love to nibble at glue, not just envelope glue, there is no way a cockroach egg sack could get stuck in your mouth, let alone be incubated. Cockroaches carry their eggs in a firm-walled brown sac about the size of a dried bean. Something that size could not get inside a small cut in a tongue, lip or into the gum line. There’s nothing to worry about. Besides, who licks envelopes anymore?
Can Cockroaches fly? – TRUE
This little fact will make you keep the bug spray close at hand. Yes, some adult cockroaches do have wings and can fly… a limited distance. It’s more like a hop-glide to the ground, but neither the less still frightening. They don’t tend to fly, and they’re more likely to rely on their fast legs (up to 3 miles an hour) to carry them where they want to go.
Cockroaches carry disease? – TRUE
You bet those pesky insects carry disease. Look at where they come from. They’re known for living in sewers, under wood piles, in the garbage. They eat anything and everything, dead, alive… rotting! One of their favorite meals is rotting rodent under filth. It goes to figure they’re one of the major spreaders of disease. If you suspect a cockroach has been nibbling at your food, toss it out immediately.
If you suspect cockroaches are taking over your home and you’re up to your ears in bug sprays that won’t work, then it’s time to call in the cockroach specialists.
The pros at AIPM will put an end to your cockroach problems once and for all. AIPM is owned and operated by University graduates who majored in Biology and Pest Management. They know how to handle all types of insect and pest issues. They can eliminate the threats to your property while setting up a custom plan to ensure that you never have to face the same type of infestation again. Contact us to receive a free consultation!