How Do Cockroaches Turn Into Moths?
WouterCockroaches have been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Carboniferous period. They are members of the Order Blattodea, which also includes butterflies and moths. In fact, they are so similar to termites that some scientists have suggested that they should be classified together. There are about 400 species of cockroaches in Australia.
Cockroaches develop quickly and can survive without food for a year or two. They are also capable of reproducing numerous times. From a single egg-bearing female, a large population can be established in a matter of weeks. In addition, they are capable of going for long periods without water or food. Their preferred habitats are dark, warm and moist areas.
Cockroaches reproduce by laying eggs and sperm. The female releases pheromones to attract the male. The male fights for the available females. The young cockroaches do not have wings until the later stages of its life cycle.
Female cockroaches lay their eggs inside a capsule called an ootheca. This capsule holds eight to forty eggs and is carried by the female until they hatch. The egg capsules are usually carried in the female’s abdomen until they hatch. The female then drops the capsule. The egg capsule contains the larva, which hatches when the female drops it. It then feeds on the yolk and pups are born.
Cockroaches go through three different life stages, the egg, nymph, and adult. Females usually lay between six and fourteen oothecae in a lifetime. The eggs are carried in the female’s ootheca and hatch within one to two months. Female cockroaches can produce as many as 14 oothecas.
