Why cockroaches exist

They hold their breath often to help regulate their loss of water. While this may seem like an impressive athletic ability, what it really means is that they can spread germs and bacteria throughout a home very quickly. In fact, the German cockroach is the most common of the cockroaches and has been implicated in outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people.

For reference, these babies are about the size of a speck of dust! So, not only are they fast, but they are also elusive, which is a dangerous combination for a pest known to transmit various diseases. Similar to other pests, this cockroach species is drawn to some alcoholic beverages, especially beer. They are most likely attracted by the hops and sugar present in the drink.

Only found in South America, this species also has a one-foot wingspan. It is believed that cockroaches originated more than million years ago in the Carboniferous era. The most common species is the German cockroach. Other cockroaches found in America include the brown-banded cockroach , American cockroach and oriental cockroach. Cockroaches are able to go for so long without sustenance because they are cold-blooded insects. However, they can only survive for one week without water, which is why they are commonly found in humid or high-moisture areas around the home, such as basements and bathrooms.

These facts prove that cockroaches are some of the most adaptable creatures on earth, which makes controlling and eliminating a cockroach infestation all the more difficult. We fear a roach infestation inside the walls. We fear that our house is dirty enough to sustain them. We fear that a cockroach might scurry across our faces at night, or, under cover of darkness, eat flecks of toothpaste off our toothbrushes.

These fears drive us to kill, kill, kill, and wish death upon the whole genus. But what if — through some means more effective than a nuclear bomb — cockroaches really were wiped out? Could we then rest easy? Or do we, in fact, somehow need these monstrous vermin? It turns out that roaches actually serve several vital functions out in the wild, if not in your kitchen. First things first: Most people think of roaches as household pests, but there are actually more than 4, different species around the world and In some environments, roaches serve as pollinators for various plants and flowers, but it's their eating habits that prove really useful.

Cockroaches can and will eat just about anything. In your house, they can get by on soap scum and glue. Out in the wild, they can digest and break down plant materials that are otherwise inedible to most other animals.

Cockroach feces plays a critical role in the nitrogen cycle in many different ecosystems -- by digesting and excreting the stuff no one else wants to eat, they deposit nitrogen back into the soil.