Will Cockroaches Take Over the World?

If nuclear wars were to destroy humanity, cockroaches are the likely winners. They’re resistant to most pesticides and their eggs won’t be destroyed by them. Besides being highly nutritious, cockroaches also carry dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli, which can cause disease in humans. In addition, their feces can trigger asthma attacks and allergies.

As a species, cockroaches are hardy, with an estimated 250 million years of existence. They originated in the Jurassic period, roaming the earth with cavemen and witnessing the evolution of humankind. Cockroaches even survived a giant asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Cockroaches can survive extreme conditions, and their ability to adapt to new situations is incredible.

In fact, roaches can survive massive amounts of radiation. In the Hiroshima and Nagasaki explosions, a roach could be exposed to 1000 radon units of radiation for 10 minutes. This radiation would be deadly for humans, but would not harm a roach.

During their three-month reproductive cycle, cockroaches can produce 50 offspring. If a population is eradicated, the population would grow again in a few months. Fortunately, cockroaches can be controlled. Small infestations can be controlled with sanitation, while large infestations can be handled with professional pest control technicians.