How Did Cockroach Get Their Name?
WouterThe word “cockroach” has many meanings. In Spanish, it is cucaracha, and its English form is “cuc-a-racha.” As these names have spread, so has the word cockroach. But how did cockroaches get their name? It is believed that cockroaches have evolved a complex network of symbiotic organisms within their hindguts and fat bodies. This symbiotic relationship has played a major role in the adaptation of cockroach species.
Cockroaches have been present on Earth for more than 300 million years, but their exact origins are uncertain. Most roaches originated in tropical regions and gradually adapted to cooler environments over the past 300 million years. Cockroaches are thought to have appeared at least 355 million years ago, as evidenced by fossils. In fact, the name “cockroach” is derived from a fossil of a cockroach that looks similar to a praying mantis.
Cockroaches reproduce by laying eggs. A female cockroach mates with a male roach and produces up to three batches of fertilized eggs in a row. After mating, the female cockroach lays an egg capsule known as the ootheca. This ootheca grows, and eventually fills with up to sixty eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the female will often eat infertile eggs, reclaiming the stored yolk protein.
Cockroaches are related to termites and praying mantises. Both species share several similar traits such as having hard exoskeletons and specialized cases for their eggs. Cockroaches also have perforations in the internal parts of their heads.
