Cockroaches Can Be Tiny

Cockroaches can be tiny, but they have an incredible strength. Their bodies flatten and splay out to make them fit through narrow spaces. They can even fit through holes twice their size, thanks to the flexibility of their exoskeletons. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that cockroaches can crawl through gaps as small as 3mm. This is about twenty-five times faster than a five-foot-eight-inch human can move.

Although cockroaches are usually small and harmless, they can cause serious problems if they infest your home. They are pests that can carry diseases and cause allergic reactions. They can also multiply unexpectedly. The most common cockroach is the German cockroach, which is found all across the continental United States. Adults are about 16 millimeters long, and they are light brown or tan in color.

Cockroaches have broad, flat bodies with long antennae and long hind legs. Their size can vary from 0.07 inches to three inches. The German cockroach, for example, has the largest egg case in the world, with thirty-four or more eggs per ootheca.

The American cockroach is slightly larger than its European and Asian counterparts, but is still small. Its wings are shorter than its adult counterparts, and it takes about six months to a year for an American cockroach to reach sexual maturity.