Cockroach Profile
Although many people may consider them pests, cockroaches are actually extremely interesting and intelligent animals. There are thousands of different species, and they can live almost anywhere in the world thanks to their adaptability.
If you’re still not convinced about how neat cockroaches can be, here are 9 cool cockroach facts!
Cockroach Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Almost everywhere but prefer damp, dark areas with access to a variety of food sources |
| Location: | Everywhere but Antartica |
| Lifespan: | Up to 30 weeks |
| Size: | 1 to 11 centimeters |
| Color: | Brown or black |
| Diet: | Leather, hair, skin flakes, dead insects, clothes, food scrapes |
| Predators: | Amphibians, larger insects, small mammals, small birds |
| Top Speed: | 3.8 kilometers per hour |
| No. of Species: | 4500 |
| Conservation Status: | Varies on species, from least concern to critically endangered |
Cockroaches are all of the species in the order Blattodea except for termites. That means that there are over 4000 species of cockroaches found across the world. They can range in size and shape, and some species look entirely different than others!
Thanks to their adaptability, cockroaches can live almost everywhere in the world. The only continent you won’t find them on is Antarctica. This is due to their flexibility and ability to thrive in a variety of environments and situations.
However, there are most common in areas associated with people. Although this is just in their nature as a method of survival, it has led to them being labeled as pests.
Interesting Cockroach Facts
1. You can keep them as pets
Believe it or not, but cockroaches are actually popular insect pets! They’re low-maintenance, docile, and don’t require as much time or care as larger animals. Studies have also shown that cockroaches are capable of emotion, although they may not demonstrate them in the same way that we do. 1
Some of the most popular species of cockroaches to keep as pets include the Madagascar hissing cockroach, the Indian domino cockroach, and the death’s head cockroach.
2. Some are capable of a type of breathing
When it comes to knowing how some types of cockroaches are capable of “breathing”, it’s important to know what breathing is exactly.
You see, breathing is not the same as respiration. Respiration is the process of intaking oxygen to help fuel the body and dispelling harmful carbon dioxide. However, breathing specifically is a movement. Typically, you see this with lungs, with the lungs and surrounding muscles or organs contracting and expanding to help move oxygen into and around the body.
Cockroaches don’t have lungs. Most insects do not. Instead, they have an open system with tiny holes along their body that take in the air directly from the world around them. However, some of the larger species of cockroach have been observed to have movements that are similar to breathing to help move oxygen.
This means their anatomy is more advanced than you may think at a first glance!
3. Some cockroaches can reproduce through parthenogenesis
In simple terms, parthenogenesis is a type of reproduction in which a male is not needed for offspring to be produced. Typically, in this case, females are able to use their own DNA to create female offspring. This is an ability also found in some species of cockroaches!
4. The largest species can grow to be over 11 centimeters long
Typically, when you think of a cockroach, you probably think of a small insect scurrying around. However, not all cockroaches are small.
The largest species of cockroach is the Megaloblatta longipennis. It can grow to be up to 11 centimeters long, and it can have a wingspan double that size!
5. They are closely related to termites
As mentioned previously, all cockroaches are in the order Blattodea. However, it’s not just cockroaches in this order. You’ll also notice that termites are in this order. This means that they are closely related.
6. Cockroaches lived with dinosaurs!
Cockroaches are some of the oldest insects in existence. While there is some more recent discourse on the actual age of cockroaches, scientists believe they can be anywhere from 100 to 300 million years old!2
7. The smallest species is the size of a penny
Earlier, you learned that the largest species of cockroach can be over 11 centimeters long. However, you also learned that cockroaches come in a variety of shapes and sizes. One example? Look at the smallest species!
The smallest species of cockroach is the brown-banded cockroach. At their largest, they only grow to be around 1 centimeter long. German cockroaches are of similar size, although they may occasionally grow to be larger.
8. At least two species are considered endangered
With so many species and the ability to survive anywhere, it may seem impossible for a species of cockroach to ever be endangered. However, this isn’t necessarily true.
There are at least two species of cockroach currently facing a risk of extinction. One example would be the Lord Howe Island wood-feeding cockroach (Panesthia lata). Not only are they endangered, but they may even be extinct on the island they’re named for!
9. They’re essential to the environment
Although cockroaches are considered pests by many people and cultures, they’re actually essential to the environment. They help dispose of waste such as decaying matter and return necessary nutrients to the environment.
Cockroach Fact-File Summary
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Family: | Anaplectidae
Blaberidae Blattidae Corydiidae Cryptocercidae Ectobiidae Lamproblattidae Nocticolidae Tryonicidae |
Fact Sources & References
- Zaria Gorvett (2021), “Why insects are more sensitive than they seem”, BBC.
- (2017), “Old, But Not That Old: Debunking the Myth of Ancient Cockroaches”, Entomology Today.