People have long suspected that cockroaches are mechanical transmitters of disease – they walk through rot and faeces and filth and then deposit those germs onto other surfaces.
Some individuals are afraid of them because they can hide in dark places and crawl out unexpectedly. Others imagine cockroaches invading their homes, nibbling on their leftovers, or possibly spreading diseases. To some people, the smell of cockroaches alone can be nauseating.
In most cases, this fear stems from a cockroach-related traumatic experience: like waking up to a cockroach hiking up your sleeping body.
People hate cockroaches because they bite, they carry germs, they run very fast, and they look so ugly. Most especially when they sense your irrational fear, those scaly bastards would threat you by fluttering their wings first before flying to chase you around! Some people are not really scared of cockroaches.
Cockroaches are often considered repulsive to humans due to their appearance, association with unsanitary environments, and the perception that they can carry diseases. Their quick and erratic movements can also startle people, contributing to the negative perception.
Flying cockroaches may seem to dive-bomb people because of how they fly. They are short-distance flyers. They glide as much as they fly, starting at higher distances and moving to lower heights. They fly to avoid threats, which means they may often fly towards you.
Insects and Arachnids
Strangely enough, one of the most prevalent kind of predator that cockroaches face are fellow insects! The emerald cockroach wasp, Ampulex compressa, for example, has an unusual way of preying upon cockroaches. The wasp stings the cockroach's brain, which paralyzes the cockroach.
It may surprise you to know that cockroaches are, in fact, able to bite humans. There have been reported cases of cockroaches biting fingernails, eyelashes and calloused skin on hands or feet. Cockroaches will also eat dead skin cells. However, cases of cockroach bites are extremely rare.
Squashing cockroaches can spread these pathogens onto surfaces, increasing the risk of disease transmission to humans. For example, if you squash a cockroach, now the sole of your shoe is contaminated. Wherever you walk next may also become contaminated.
While cockroaches can crawl on humans at night, it is relatively rare. Cockroaches are more interested in finding food and shelter than in seeking human contact. However, if you have a severe infestation or roaches are attracted to food or crumbs in your bed, they may enter your sleeping area.
Some strong scents, such as lavender and mint, have been known to repel cockroaches. Therefore, growing these plants or misting their scent with essential oils can keep them away.
Leaving the light on doesn't deter cockroaches effectively because they can navigate in low-light conditions. While they're mostly active at night, they may still come out in search of food or water. During the day, cockroaches hide in dark areas not directly exposed to light.
Cockroaches carry a host of diseases
It's unpleasant to think about, but cockroaches can carry all kinds of diseases that can be dangerous to humans. If you touch a cockroach, you risk becoming infected with some serious diseases, including bacteria that cause dysentery.
Cockroaches are blessed with an amazing sense of smell. This is what they use when seeking food and mate but at the same time, this is also their weakness. A cockroach's sense of smell can be used to get rid of them.
If you think you have cockroaches, do not panic. Finding roaches is not a sign that your house is dirty. Even if you clean regularly and maintain a tidy home, cockroaches can usually find food and water without much trouble. This allows them to thrive in many environments.
Even dead cockroaches can still cause some allergic reactions. Therefore, it is not advisable to step on a cockroach, as its crushed body parts can trigger some allergies.
Sri Yukteswar explains in the Autobiography of a Yogi: “A man incurs the debt of a minor sin if he is forced to kill an animal or any other living thing.” Still if it it is necessary, it's a better karma than allowing them to spread, if they bring harm.
Do Cockroaches Lay Eggs When Killed? Cockroaches do not lay eggs when they are killed. This myth was likely started due to female cockroaches dying with oothecas inside or attached to their bodies. This would result in a viable ootheca hatching cockroach nymphs after the cockroach died.
Yes, cockroaches can crawl into beds. They are attracted to warmth, moisture, and food sources, which may lead them to seek shelter in and around sleeping areas. To prevent this, ensure your bedroom is clean and free of food debris. Also, consider using a bed bug-proof mattress protector and pillow covers.
American cockroach life cycle
A female American roach can produce up to 224 offspring. American cockroaches go through 10 to 13 instars before reaching maturity. Adult males can live up to 362 days, whereas adult females can live more than 700 days.
The idea that roaches will outlive humans is built upon the notion that they are capable of surviving a nuclear blast. However, a cockroach would not survive the intense heat of a nuclear fireball or the crushing pressure of the resulting shockwave.
According to the body, which classes cockroaches as “unhygienic scavengers in human settlements,” squashing them can spread bacteria into the environment that can lead to asthma, allergies, and illnesses.
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
Generally, cockroaches don't like the cold one bit. They are cold-blooded arthropods that don't survive very well in either extremely cold or hot circumstances. They're always at whatever temperature their environment is and generally slow down with cooler temperatures.