What Can You Say About This Insect?

A cockroach is an insect in the order Blattodea and has over 4,600 species. It has six legs and can cover a distance of 50 body lengths per second. This is roughly the same as a human jogging at 200 miles per hour. While the cockroach can be a nuisance, the majority of its species play an important role in the environment.

Cockroaches lay eggs inside a protective shell called an ootheca. Depending on species, the egg case may contain from sixteen to fifty eggs. Typically, a female will lay four to 30 egg cases during her lifetime. Most cockroaches will deposit their egg cases in inconspicuous areas, but some species will carry them until they hatch.

Cockroaches can detect threats using air currents. This makes them extremely agile – a cockroach with all six legs in motion can sprint at 80 centimeters per second, or 1.7 miles per hour. They can even change direction mid-stride!

As a disease carrier, cockroaches are known to carry several diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, cockroaches are among the most common indoor allergens, with the excretion containing enzymes that trigger allergic reactions. Allergies from cockroaches are especially common in children.