Cockroaches are one of the most hated pests in Bristow. Just the sight of a large, shiny cockroach scampering across the floor or a countertop in your home is enough to gross out most people. You may already know that roaches are disease carriers, or it may just be the sight of a large bug that you find disgusting. But there are more reasons to dislike these bugs.

As winter approaches and cockroach infestations are increasing in local homes in Bristow, here are some interesting facts about these pests:

Roaches are older than dinosaurs.

Scientists have been able to find fossils of cockroaches that date back more than 350 million years, older than T-rex, which means the first humans had the same problems as we do with these insects.

They live on every continent but Antarctica.

By hitching rides on ships, cockroaches have been able to move throughout the world. You can now find them on every continent except the South Pole where constant ice and snow make it too cold for them.

They can survive almost anything.

Roaches can live a month without food, 40 minutes without air, and 30 minutes underwater. While they cannot actually survive a nuclear blast, they can endure 10 times more radiation than a human. They can also live a week after having their heads cut off before they die of thirst.

Cockroaches will eat almost anything too.

Roaches will eat all of the human foods they can find in your kitchen, but will also eat things we do not consider food if they are hungry enough. This includes books, pet fur, wallpaper, and soap. They can also eat bits of biological material from people like excrement, dead skin, hair, and toenails.
Roaches are smart for insects.

Roaches are smart for insects.

Their tiny brains are packed with neurons at a higher rate than a person’s. This helps roaches to memorize routes around your home. Researchers have also been able to train roaches to behave in certain ways.

They move fast.

Cockroaches move at a speed of 3 miles per hour. To put that in perspective, if a cockroach were the size of a person, its running speed would be 100 miles per hour. Even baby cockroaches can run at that speed in their second day alive.

You’ve probably eaten roaches.

The average chocolate bar has approximately 8 pieces of insect in it, including roaches. The bugs may be present in the raw ingredients or fall in during manufacturing. Foods like cheese, popcorn, and peanut butter also have the rare insect part. As long as numbers are kept low, the FDA says these insect parts are harmless.

You may even have the opportunity to choose to eat roaches.

Cockroaches are farmed in China for medicines, food, and cosmetics. Cockroach milk – the protein crystals that mother roaches feed their young – are also consumed for their nutrient contents and health benefits. The demand for cockroaches has made farming a valuable industry with profit margins over 600%.

Roaches trigger allergic reactions in certain people.

Roaches make a protein that is present in their shed skins and droppings. This protein irritates the respiratory system, which can trigger allergies and asthma attacks in people who already have respiratory conditions.

There are over 4,000 species of roaches in the world.

In the U.S. alone, there are 70 species. 3 are the cause of pest problems in homes in Bristow. The American cockroach, German cockroach, and Oriental cockroach have adapted to live alongside people and depend on local homes and businesses for their food.

While some of these facts may make cockroaches a little more interesting, you still don’t want them anywhere near your home and living spaces. ExtermPRO provides fast and effective cockroach extermination in Bristow. Call us today to set up a visit from one of our pest professionals.