Do you the truth about roaches and where they come from? Cockroaches are some of the most reviled and feared insects. Even the word “roach” sounds disgusting. These small, brownish-black creatures with segmented bodies and long antennae creep people out almost instantly.
The Truth about Roaches and Where They Come From
Roaches can be found in almost every corner of the earth and are known to thrive in humid, dark environments that are close to human settlements—which is exactly why most people would rather see them dead than alive.
Roaches have existed for more than 300 million years and aren’t going anywhere soon. They survive just about everything we throw at them, from fire to poison gas.
While most species aren’t harmful to humans directly, they can still be gross and terrifying, especially considering how much they love making their homes in our dwellings.
Read also: 5 Bugs That Look Like Roaches But Aren’t
Where Do Roaches Come From?
Roaches have existed for more than 300 million years and aren’t going anywhere soon. They survive just about everything we throw at them, from fire to poison gas.
While most species aren’t harmful to humans directly, they can still be gross and terrifying, especially considering how much they love making their homes in our dwellings.
Most people believe that roaches first appeared in human settlements around the 16th century. This is actually incorrect though, as roaches were around much longer than that.
The theory behind this misconception is that roaches became a common problem in the 1600s when people began building cities and started using more wood. Wood decays when it’s left outside and becomes a perfect breeding ground for roaches.
When people started living in cities, they needed a lot of wood to build houses. Roaches moved in from the surrounding forests and fields and haven’t left since.
Read also: How to Get Cockroaches Out of Electronics
How Did Roaches Evolve?
As mentioned, roaches have been around for over 300 million years. That’s roughly equivalent to the time it took for humans to evolve from apes and start walking upright.
This means that roaches have been evolving for much longer than humans have ever been a species. It’s also interesting to note that roaches have evolved a lot more than humans have in the same time period.
Roaches have undergone several stages of evolution throughout their existence. This means that they’ve been different species at different times.
The oldest roach species were giant cockroaches that were roughly the size of a dog. These giant roaches died out 100 million years ago, at the same time that dinosaurs were dying out too.
Read also: What Eats Cockroaches?
Types of Roaches
There are more than 4,000 species of roaches that can be found all over the world, most of which thrive in warm and humid environments.
The most common roaches in the United States are the German roach and the American roach. German Roaches – German roaches are fairly small, with adults reaching about 1/2 inch long.
They are light brown in colour and are usually seen in small groups. German roaches usually live in warm and humid environments and breed quickly.
These roaches are incredibly common in the United States and are the most annoying and prolific. German roaches are often found in households and commercial buildings and can be incredibly difficult to eliminate.
American Roaches – American roaches are larger than German roaches, with adults reaching up to 1 inch long. These roaches are usually brown in colour but can be black as well.
American roaches prefer warm, humid environments just like the German roach, but they also seem to thrive in colder climates.
American roaches can be found in households, commercial buildings, and outdoors in trees and bushes. These roaches are common in the southern and eastern parts of the United States and can be very difficult to eliminate.
Read also: Do Cockroaches Make Noise?
What Does a Cockroach Look Like and What Is Its Anatomy?
Cockroaches have exoskeletons that are dark brown in colour with yellow markings on the front part of their bodies.
These insects are also covered with small hairs that are used to sense vibrations in the air and on the ground. Roaches have three pairs of legs, one on each side of their bodies, and six legs on their abdomens.
Roaches also have compound eyes and antennae that are used for sensing smells and finding food. Roaches have long, segmented bodies that are very flexible and allow them to squeeze into tight places.
Cockroaches have long, slender bodies and large abdomens that are full of powerful muscles. These muscles make it easy for roaches to run and jump when they’re threatened.
Why Are There So Many Roaches Now?
Roaches have thrived on this planet for millions of years. They survived ice ages and extinction events, and they even survived nuclear bombs.
These resilient insects are basically the cockroaches of the human race. Roaches survived all of these events because they breed quickly and like to live in humid, warm environments. Roaches are especially drawn to areas where there is lots of food and very little light.
These conditions are often found in urban areas, which is why roaches are so common in cities. In the 1900s, there was a shift in the way humans lived and built houses.
People started living in cities and using a lot of wood in their buildings. This gave roaches the perfect breeding ground and they flourished as a result.
Ways to Get Rid of Roaches
Unfortunately, killing every last roach on the planet isn’t an easy task. Not only do these insects live practically everywhere, but they’re also very hearty and can survive almost anything humans throw at them.
Roaches can be killed with a combination of insecticides, special trap-like devices, cleaning, and keeping food and water sources outside of the home.
A multi-pronged approach like this can be very effective when done correctly. It’s important to understand that there is no quick and easy fix for a roach problem. Killing roaches takes time and effort, and success will only come with consistent effort.
Conclusion
Cockroaches have been around for millions of years and aren’t going anywhere. These resilient insects have survived ice ages and nuclear bombs, and they’re not about to let humans get the best of them.
Roaches thrive in humid, warm environments and are attracted to areas where there is plenty of food and little light.
These insects can survive almost anything we throw at them, from poison gas to fire. Roaches can be killed with a combination of insecticides, special trap-like devices, cleaning, and keeping food and water sources outside of the home.
About The Author
Discover more from Pestclue
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.