Will Cockroaches Go Extinct?
WouterCockroaches are an important food source for several birds and small insectivorous mammals. They are also eaten by humans in some areas. While cockroaches may be the sole survivors of an extermination event, it would still affect the ecosystem and the food chain. According to Srini Kambhampati, professor and chair of the Biology Department at the University of Texas at Tyler, cockroach extinction would have devastating effects on ecosystems.
Cockroaches have a strong survival instinct. Their ability to survive during a mass extinction event shows their adaptability. They can survive for about twenty days without food and water and are able to digest non-organic matter. As a result, it’s highly unlikely that cockroaches will go extinct anytime soon.
Cockroaches are also an important food source for birds and rats. A complete absence of cockroaches would affect the survival of the other animals and birds that feed on roaches. In addition to birds and rats, roaches feed large numbers of other animals and insects, and they are also a food source for larger animals such as eagles and coyotes.
Cockroaches are not known for biting humans, but they can scratch you or stain surfaces. Their feces can also transfer harmful bacteria to your food. This bacteria can cause food poisoning, diarrhea, and dysentery. In addition, cockroaches are also known to cause an allergic reaction in a significant percentage of people, which can range from skin rashes to asthma.
