Cockroaches – Which Colour Is Your Cockroach?
WouterCockroaches have no scales and their bodies are flat, making them easy to fit into crevices and cracks. Although they are harmless, their plethora of colours can make them a nuisance. Typical cockroaches are brown, with black stripes around the edges of their bodies. Some species, however, are banded, with different coloured bands on their wings and head.
Cockroaches’ blood is whitish or yellow and contains no blood pigment (hemoglobin), which is what gives human blood red color. Cockroaches’ blood has a different molecular composition than the blood in humans and other animals, causing it to appear whitish or even yellow. Although a cockroach’s blood has no pigment, it does contain proteins and salts, and its composition is very similar to our own.
Cockroaches can survive without food and water for weeks. However, a cockroach’s head can become decapitated, and it will eventually die of starvation and dehydration. Cockroaches also are susceptible to certain insecticides, which affect their nervous system and cause them to flip over on their backs.
Cockroaches are commonly found in indoor and outdoor environments. Oriental cockroaches are about one-and-a-half inches long and are dark brown to black in colour. Both the male and female have wings, though the male has shorter wings. These creatures spend most of their lives outdoors and will usually invade homes to find food. The American cockroach, on the other hand, is 1.5 inches long and reddish-brown. They feed on plant materials and trash.
