A cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes, and can even survive being submerged under water for half an hour. They hold their breath often to help regulate their loss of water.
Cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour, which means they can spread germs and bacteria throughout a home very quickly.
Newborn German cockroaches become adults in as little as 36 days. In fact, the German cockroach is the most common of the cockroaches and has been implicated in outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people.
A one-day-old baby cockroach, which is about the size of a speck of dust, can run almost as fast as its parents.
The American cockroach has shown a marked attraction to alcoholic beverages, especially beer. They are most likely attracted by the alcohol mixed with hops and sugar.
The world's largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan. Average cockroaches can vary in size from ½"- 2" long.
Cockroaches are believed to have originated more than 280 million years ago, in the Carboniferous era.
There are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches worldwide, including the most common species, the German cockroach, in addition to other common species, the brownbanded cockroach and American cockroach.
Because they are cold-blooded insects, cockroaches can live without food for one month, but will only survive one week without water.
These facts prove that cockroaches are some of the most adaptable creatures on earth, which makes controlling and eliminating a cockroach infestation all the more difficult.
To get rid of cockroaches in your home, experts suggest keeping food sealed and stored properly, particularly in the kitchen, which should be cleaned daily to prevent crumbs and trash from building up.
Garbage should be disposed of regularly and stored in sealed containers.
Homeowners should seek out and seal all cracks and holes in homes, including entry points for utilities and pipes, as these can serve as entrance ways for the pest. In addition, basements and crawl spaces should be kept well ventilated and dry.
