How Did Cockroach Originate?

The cockroach evolved to live alongside humans, and they’re widespread around the world. Through early trade routes, cockroach species migrated to every continent. Today, they are most prevalent in tropical areas, where humans have established homes and food sources. It’s not clear how these roaches managed to spread so far, but scientists speculate that they may have been transported by continental drift.

The first cockroach species were present on the planet over 300 million years ago. This was when dry land was centered in the Pangaea supercontinent. As Pangaea began to divide, roaches migrated to the newly sundered continents, where they thrived. Later, they spread throughout the world and multiplied.

Cockroaches reproduce by breeding with one another. Once a female roach has been fertilized, it develops an egg capsule, known as an ootheca. This capsule grows until it contains as many as sixty eggs. Once this egg capsule is full, the egg is released from its abdomen. Different species of cockroaches deal with their ootheca differently.

Cockroaches feed on human food and debris. They are drawn to areas with a lot of clutter. They are most likely to feed on trash and food, so it’s best to remove such items from your home as soon as possible.