How High Can Cockroaches Jump?
WouterCockroaches are able to jump in an astonishing manner, as evidenced by the recent discovery of a cockroach that jumps 23 times higher than other extant species. The cockroach, named Saltoblattella montistabularis, jumps by rapidly extending its hind legs, which account for about 10 per cent of its body weight. In this way, it experiences 23 times the force of gravity when it jumps.
Cockroaches can leap a few inches into the air and are capable of reaching speeds of up to three miles per hour. They do this by contracting their abdominal muscles and lifting their legs into a vertical position. This is a much more efficient jumping technique than the vertical leaps that crickets make.
Cockroaches are very mobile and can climb on smooth surfaces like walls and ceilings. They also have claws and barbs that help them hold onto surfaces. This allows them to climb glass surfaces upside down and survive there. Oriental cockroaches, on the other hand, are not climbers and lack the physical characteristics that would enable them to climb vertical surfaces.
The ability of cockroaches to fly varies according to their size and wing strength. The strongest flying cockroaches can reach up to 100 feet in the air, but most can fly only as high as the treetops. In fact, some of the largest cockroaches in the U.S. have wings that are longer than their abdomens, and the male palmetto bug can cover 35 cm in a single bound.
