Cockroach is the name of an insect that is found inhabiting all the countries of the world. In fact, it is one of the very few creatures that are found in the hottest as well as coldest regions of the globe. Though there are over 5000 different species of cockroaches in the world, the most common ones comprise of the American cockroach, the German cockroach, the Asian cockroach and the Oriental cockroach. The most common climates for roaches comprise of the tropical and the subtropical ones. With the exception of the ones belonging to wood-eating genus, all roaches are omnivorous. In case you want to learn more about a cockroach, make use of the interesting facts and amazing information provided below.
Facts about Cockroach
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Dictyoptera
Order: Blattaria
Families: Blaberidae, Blattellidae, Blattidae, Cryptocercidae, Polyphagidae and Nocticolidae
Species: Around 5000
Number of Legs: 6
Number of Knees: 18
Running Speed: 3 miles/hr
Natural Habitat: Throughout the world
Diet: Omnivorous
Interesting & Amazing Information on Cockroaches
- Some of the female cockroaches can mate once and remain pregnant for the rest of their lives.
- A cockroach can live without its head for up to a week. This is because its brain is not in the head, rather is scattered throughout its body.
- Cockroaches can survive without food for a month, but it will live only a week without water.
- Adult male cockroaches can fit into a space of hardly 1.6 mm, but a pregnant female will require 4.5 mm of space to hide.
- The heart of a cockroach comprises of a simple tube with valves. It can stop moving anytime, without harming the roach.
- A cockroach can make use of its feelers or antennae, as noses.
- The sense of smell of cockroaches is very acute. In fact, they can recognize family and friends by their distinctive odors.
- Female cockroaches attract males by producing pheromones, a type of scent.
- Cockroaches wear their skeletons on the outside of their bodies and have white blood.
- The world's largest cockroach is found in South America. It is six inches long and has a wingspan of up to one-foot.
- A cockroach can swim and even hold its breath for 40 minutes, at a stretch.
- When a cockroach sheds its skin, it becomes completely white. However, the skin grows back within a period of 8 hours.
- Male cockroaches not only weigh less than female cockroaches, but can also fly and flee faster.
- Cockroach once served as guests of honor in European homes. In fact, it was customary to release them in new houses.
- A cockroach does not have blood vessels.
- Cockroaches spend atleast 75 percent of their time in resting.
