What Size Crack Can a Cockroach Fit Through?
WouterA cockroach can fit through a crack a tenth of an inch wide in less than a second, according to a new study. A team of researchers from UC Berkeley used a cockroach as their test subject. They found that they can squeeze through cracks up to that size without suffocating and can run at high speed when flattened in half. Their results have sparked the development of a robot that can fit through cracks, which could be used in search-and-rescue operations in earthquake rubble.
In order to squeeze through cracks, cockroaches flatten their bodies. However, there are some limits to the amount of flattening they can achieve. Cockroaches have to be around one-fifth of their original height to fit through a crack. A cockroach can also flatten its body by splaying its legs to the side.
A cockroach can fit through a crack of 0.1-inch height, but it can fit through smaller cracks as well. The American cockroach, for example, can crawl through a crack only three millimeters high. A cockroach will also squat down in order to compress its body and squeeze through a space smaller than its full length.
During the day, cockroaches hide in dark places, but come out at night to feed. They are often found in kitchen cabinets, in cracks around cabinets, and in other dark places. Cracks in windows and behind picture frames can also provide a hiding place for them.
