A Thorough Look At Flying Cockroaches
Flying cockroaches have invaded southern crops in the United States in the past couple of years more than even before. Although most people think of all cockroaches as pests, technically only about one percent are. The cockroaches that infest your home actually have underdeveloped wings so most cannot fly at all or else that can only travel a very short distance.
It is believed that flying cockroaches were some of the first flying animals. Since many have found themselves content, scavenging on the ground, they have no need to fly any longer. The majority of flying cockroaches are wild and are not the varieties that invade homes.
In America, the palmetto bug, otherwise known as the American cockroach is able to fly but they are typically seen scurrying across a surface instead. The blattella asahinai, which is the well-known flying variety, is the one that has been invading farms in the southern areas of the United States. They are strong fliers and look very much like the German cockroach, which typically are the pests in homes. However, the German variety is unable to fly due to its underdeveloped wings.
These flying cockroaches, although may appear bothersome, are actually welcome by farmers because they feed on insects who typically destroy cabbage, soybean and cotton crops but leave the plants untouched.
There are also tropical cockroaches that fly and are colorful in shades of yellow, green and red. These interesting species are found primarily in South America, offering wingspans of an unbelievable seven inches.
Hardiness
Cockroaches in general are some of the hardiest insects alive on the planet. There are some that have even been reported surviving for months on nothing but the glue on a postage stamp while others have been witnessed to go 45 minutes without air and even recovering after they were completed submerged in water for 30 minutes.
They are radiation resistant to a level much higher than humans and it is often said that if mankind is destroyed in a nuclear war, cockroaches will live on, along with the fruit fly.
Although they prefer warm climates, they are resistant enough to survive in freezing temperatures which makes them quite challenging to get rid of once they invade an area.
Behavior
Despite the fact that flying cockroaches are one of the most unlikable insects, they still have to be respected for their survival rate and behavior. These intelligent insects emit airborne pheromones as well as trials of chemicals in their feces for mating and swarming purposes. These scents lead other cockroaches to hiding spots, water and food.
They are mainly nocturnal, showing a tendency to vanish as quickly as they can if they are exposed to light, with the exception of the Asian cockroach who actually prefers light. Studies have also proven that they can associate the smell of peppermint or vanilla with a sweet treat.
Digestive Tracts
It is common knowledge that is seems as though flying cockroaches eat everything and many are found in garbage and kitchens, making them pests. These insects are omnivorous and scavenge on basically anything that they can find to eat. Some varieties cannot digest cellulose however, they have relationships with bacteria and protozoans that enable them to extract nutrients from it.
Because of the fact that cockroaches enjoy such a variety in their diet, it is quite difficult to get rid of them once they find a place in your home because they can find available food sources from virtually anything. It is always easier to take preventative measures by caulking and checking screens to make sure that they cannot get in your home in the first place, rather than try to get rid of them later.