A burning question that we’ve all asked (or WANTED to ask) at some point in our life. Why are cockroaches so hard to kill? Cockroaches are one of the last insects you’d want to find in your home. They can carry disease, cause allergic reactions, and contaminate your food. If you’ve ever seen one in your home, have you noticed that they are incredibly hard to get rid of? We at Holistic Pest Solutions are going to attempt to answer this burning question with some amazing facts about why cockroaches are nearly indestructible.
Cockroaches can withstand up to 900 times their body weight
Cockroaches have extremely strong and flexible exoskeletons, which make them almost impossible to squish, withstand the hardest stomp or the toughest newspaper. They can also flatten themselves to fit into tight spaces and crevices, making for an easy getaway.
A cockroach can live up to a week without its head
Ever thought that cockroaches breathe through their mouths like the rest of us? Think again. These pesky pests breathe through tiny holes throughout their bodies, so their heads are not necessary for breathing. However, cockroaches will die after a week without a head, because they need their mouths for food and water. They are most likely to die from dehydration first, given that they can survive up to a month without food. ACK!!! That’s the stuff nightmares are made of.
Cockroaches can travel at incredible speeds
If you’ve ever tried to chase down a cockroach before, you may have had a hard time catching it. Cockroaches are speed demons that can travel up to 3mph, which equates to about 50 of their body lengths per second. In human terms, that would be like a person running at 210 mph. In addition to speed, these insects are extremely sensitive to the smallest vibrations, so it’s hard to sneak up on a cockroach. Chances are, by the time you start to come after a cockroach, it will already be long gone.
Female cockroaches don’t always need males to reproduce
Like many kinds of pests, roaches breed fast and frequently. Female cockroaches usually have males around for reproducing. However, when males are scarce or non-existent, females can reproduce asexually through a process called parthenogenesis. This makes it much easier for female cockroaches to create a full blown infestation in your home.
Luckily, at Holistic Pest Solutions, we know our stuff when it comes to getting rid of cockroaches once and for all. No cockroach is too tough for us to handle!
CONTACT Holistic Pest Solutions if you need a free consultation for a cockroach issue or for treatment of any pests; or give us a call at 434 842 1700. Whether you’re in Charlottesville, Palmyra, Keswick, Ivy, Crozet, Earlysville, Greene, Madison, Waynesboro, or Staunton, Holistic Pest Solutions has the perfect plan for you that is mindful of your family and our Earth!
*Our Environmental Commitment: Holistic Pest Solutions is committed to the preservation of our environment. Our goal is to nurture the soils and plant life of lawns and landscapes. Utilizing holistic pest control practices that cause the least amount of impact on the environment.
