The different body parts, waste, and saliva of cockroaches are allergens for certain individuals. Even dead cockroaches can still cause some allergic reactions. Therefore, it is not advisable to step on a cockroach, as its crushed body parts can trigger some allergies.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that crushing a cockroach releases a harmful bacterium into the environment. The bacteria can cause asthma attacks, as well as allergies when inhaled. It may sound rare but it is actually more common that we realise.
How Do They Survive Being Stomped On? With most bugs, a quick stomp with your foot will do the trick. Roaches have a unique exoskeleton that is both flexible and strong, The outer part of their body allows them to withstand pressure that amounts to 900 times their body weight.
While this is certainly possible, most of the time the force of a foot coming down on a cockroach will kill it and all of its babies too, assuming it is carrying any.
Seeing dead cockroaches can mean two things. Either there is a heavy infestation, or the infestation is dying out. Since roaches come out at night, not all make it back to their nest alive. Therefore, you are most likely to find lifeless roaches around your house in the morning.
Having dead roaches in the home is a surefire way to attract an additional cockroach infestation. So, getting rid of the dead roaches, and treating live ones, is the only way to rid your home of these gross insects.
Vinegar is a natural household ingredient that can repel and kill cockroaches. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water, and then spray it directly onto the roaches when spotted. The strong odour and acidity of vinegar can be effective in eliminating them instantly.
While you may be able to kill a roach with your bare foot, you shouldn't. As I mentioned, cockroaches contain bacteria that can make you sick. Coming into direct contact with their blood may also affect your skin.
If you touch a cockroach, you risk becoming infected with some serious diseases, including bacteria that cause dysentery. According to the World Health Organization, cockroaches commonly transmit these diseases to humans: Salmonellosis. Typhoid Fever.
Squishing a cockroach releases it's eggs: Fake
One ootheca can have anywhere from 10-50 eggs inside, depending on the species. So, if you squish a female cockroach with your shoe, most likely, she has already deposited her eggs safely somewhere else.
Cockroaches are blessed with an amazing sense of smell. This is what they use when seeking food and mate but at the same time, this is also their weakness. A cockroach's sense of smell can be used to get rid of them. There are smells they can not stand so we can use this to shoo them away from our homes.
Cockroaches can withstand up to 900 times their body weight
Cockroaches have extremely strong and flexible exoskeletons, which make them almost impossible to squish, withstand the hardest stomp or the toughest newspaper. They can also flatten themselves to fit into tight spaces and crevices, making for an easy getaway.
The insects have six very flexible legs, lightning reflexes and can run 3 miles per hour. If roaches were the size of a human that would factor out to 200 miles per hour but since they are small and fast they can outrun, you and have plenty of secret hiding places to escape to.
Most roaches will be killed by vacuuming, but it's a good idea to change the vac- uum cleaner bag often and dispose of it in a double garbage bag. KEEP THEM OUT. Place screens (insect mesh) in windows. Vacuum (or sweep), then sponge mop kitchen floor every week.
Does that seem like something you want to ignore? But even if asthma isn't a concern, cockroaches have also been implicated in the passage of several different pathogens, diseases and bacteria. You don't want these critters around you.
Spiracles are visible on the sides of the cockroach's body; these are used for breathing. Inside their bodies, cockroaches contain a white substance known as fat bodies. Similar to fat stores in humans, fat bodies allow cockroaches to store energy after nutrients have been broken down.
After roach sighting, throw out any food that was contaminated. Remove any other food items that were possibly touched by the bug. If you have already eaten the food unintentionally, you may not become sick right away. Repetitive eating, however, could lead to illness.
It's a fact that cockroaches are afraid of humans and other mammals or animals that are bigger than them. They see us as predators and that fear triggers their instinct to scatter away. However, they dislike strong and distinctive scents such as citrus, peppermint, lavender and vinegar.
How Long Do Cockroaches Live? All cockroaches go through three stages of life: egg, nymph, and adult. While these insects usually live about 6 to 15 months, the cockroach lifespan varies based on species, moisture, and temperature in each of these phases.
If you heavily injure an insect, it will most likely die soon: either immediately because it will be unable to escape a predator, or slowly from infection or starvation.
Cockroach bite marks may be between 1–4 millimeters in diameter. Based on the physiology of their mouthparts, cockroach bites may appear as red, raised bumps on the skin—similar to bed bug bites or mosquito bites but slightly larger.
Citronella
Citronella not only works great for repelling mosquitos but also cockroaches. While the candles don't work well against roaches, you can use citronella oil as a deterrent. You can mix it with water and use it as a spray or simply wipe down areas with the diluted mixture.
Smells that roaches hate: a quickfire summary
Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too. And surprisingly, lower concentrations – 2.5 parts per hundred – seem to work best as deterrents. Just don't bother with lavender.