How Do Cockroaches Get Their Name?
WouterCockroaches are a type of insect. They are oval-shaped and do not have wings. They have three pairs of legs and an exoskeleton, and they molt several times during their lifetime. Some species have a unique appearance and have different names, such as the black beetle or the Cuban roach.
Cockroaches have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called bacteroids. These bacteria live in special cells in cockroaches’ fat body tissue. They are passed from generation to generation on the eggs they lay, and they invest in the future development of the fat body tissue and the female ovary. These bacteria are necessary for a healthy life, as they produce all of the nutrients and vitamins that the cockroach needs. However, without these bacteria, cockroaches would be lacking in essential vitamins, such as choline and cholesterol.
Cockroaches have over 4,000 species, and most of them don’t come into contact with humans. Their name is a mispronunciation of the Spanish word cucaracha, which means “little cockroach”. It is also the name of a popular folk song in Spanish, “La Cucaracha”. Cockroaches belong to the Blattodea order of insects, which includes termites and other insects. They don’t have wings, but their wings are vestigial.
Cockroaches molt several times. Each molt results in a new exoskeleton. During this process, a female cockroach lays her eggs in protected places. In time, the nymphs emerge as soft white nymphs. After this, their exoskeleton hardens into a brown color. Their structure is fascinating, and their wingspan is over 12 cm.
