Describe Head part of Cockroach.
Answers
Immature cockroaches look roughly the same as adults, but are smaller and sometimes have different coloration. For the purposes of understanding the basic anatomy of a roach, it is easiest to look at the adult. Its body is divided into three segments: head, thorax and abdomen.
Cockroaches have a long pair of antennae that help them to pick up smells and vibrations. The antennae are connected to the head, which also includes the brain, strong mouthparts for scraping and chewing food and compound eyes. They have poor vision and dislike light, which is why most species are nocturnal.
After the head comes the thorax. It includes three pairs of legs – cockroaches have six legs total – and two pairs of wings. Additionally, there is a plate behind the head called the pronotum. It is important because that is where many species have differentiating markings. Most adult cockroaches have wings, but only a few species fly. However, cockroaches can crawl at speeds of up to 3 miles per hour. They are also able to traverse walls and ceilings due to the fact that their legs have short, spiky protrusions that stick to surfaces.
The abdomen is the final piece, and it contains reproductive organs. At the back of the abdomen are two short protrusions called cerci. They function like rear antennae and are connected to the roach's legs by the abdominal nerve ganglia. This allows their legs to start moving when vibrations are sensed, often before their brain even processes a threat.