Why Can’t You Step on a Cockroach?
WouterTrying to kill a cockroach by stepping on it is not always successful. In order to kill a cockroach, you have to apply a lot of force. You need to crush the protective layer around the cockroach’s body, and then hit the internal parts. This is not easy, and most people will experiment to figure out the correct amount of force.
It might be tempting to step on a cockroach and hope that the creature would die. The problem is that a cockroach’s exoskeleton protects the cockroach’s embryos. In order to survive, cockroaches need this tough exoskeleton to protect their eggs from the elements and bacteria. Stepping on a cockroach’s egg will crush its fragile shell, crushing its eggs. If this happens, the surviving roaches would face an exposed environment and struggle to complete the molting cycle, which means they would likely die.
Some people believe that squashing a cockroach releases its eggs and pheromones, but this is not true. During a death, a cockroach releases a pheromone that warns other cockroaches that they’re in danger. This pheromone will prevent other cockroaches from coming near the dead cockroach. Therefore, it is better to avoid stepping on a cockroach until it’s already dead, and unless it’s starving and unable to survive on its own.
The first thing you must do is check the cockroach’s exoskeleton before you step on it. If it is cracked, it may collapse inwards. This could pierce the soft guts inside the roach. If the insides are damaged, you should destroy them immediately. The cockroach’s blood is similar to milk. It contains hemoglobin, which is red protein that gives life to vertebrates.
