cockroaches facts and myths

Here are some myths and truths about cockroaches:

• There are no German Cockroaches Not true. Although even zoologists have claimed there are no German Cockroaches, studies found many of them in hot, humid conditions at the zoos.


• roaches don't hibernate. This also is false, even in the Northern U.S. there are species of wild cockroaches that hibernate.


• Cockroaches do not bite. False. The larger roaches have even been known to bite humans


• Roaches only live in dirty homes. Wrong. Roaches live in the walls of even clean homes, they have larger colonies in less clean homes because there is a bigger food supply available.


• All roaches lay several egg sacs a month. Incorrect. German roaches lay about one sac per month, but each sac can contain approximately 40 baby roaches. American roaches can lay a sac every 2-3 days, and each sac contains about 12 babies


• Cockroaches are active all night. That is not exactly true. Roaches are primarily active for a 4 hour period of your household's normal "lights out" time. Although, they can be seen at other times as well.

Although many think that cockroaches are afraid of light, they are not. They prefer darkness but are not afraid of the light. To a cockroach, light means "man is in the kitchen (or wherever,) so they scurry to get away.

Some people think roaches must have eyes in the back of their heads, but they don't. They do have tiny little hairs that gage the air movement around them, so they feel you, they don't see you from behind.

I've read various statements on whether it's true that roaches could survive a nuclear blast. Some experts say yes, others say no.

Roaches come out for water far more often than they come out for food. Normally, one night of feasting is enough to last at least several days for a roach.

One roach expert told me that a single grain of sugar is enough to feed a cockroach for a month, however, studies I have read indicate that may or may not be true.

The reason substances like boric acid works to kill roaches is that they routinely clean themselves and each other. Thus, boric acid on their bodies will be consumed and kill them, and some of their friends. Boric acid can be made into a paste with flour and sugar and used as bait. This kills them also.

Roaches love onions.

Roaches eat meat, they are omnivores, so they will eat just about anything including dead animals.