Question

list the reasons responsible for the survival of cockroach.

Answer 1

Cockroaches are found all over the world. There are more than 3,500 species of cockroach. The most common varieties in Australia include the German, American and Oriental cockroaches.

American cockroaches are large and black. German cockroaches are smaller and brown. Oriental cockroaches are medium sized and dark brown to black in colour.

Because cockroaches eat a wide range of food, including rotting garbage, it is believed that they spread a number of diseases to humans including salmonella and gastroenteritis. Recent studies have indicated cockroaches can also cause allergies. 

A cockroach infestation can be treated with a combination of good hygiene practices and pesticides.

Identifying a cockroach

The characteristics of a cockroach include:oval-shaped bodysix legslong antennaeflat and low-lying bodyfast-movingwinged.



Cockroaches may spread a range of diseases

It is believed that the cockroach may be a reservoir for a range of bacteria including salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus. The cockroach can also harbour viruses such as the polio virus. 

Like the household fly, the cockroach will eat virtually anything ranging from food spills on a kitchen floor to faecal matter. Ingested bacteria can survive in the cockroach's digestive system, sometimes for months or even years, and are passed in its droppings. Cockroaches will vomit and defaecate on food and it is thought that disease may be transmitted to humans when humans eat food contaminated by cockroaches.



Life cycle of a cockroach

A female cockroach lays between 10 and 40 eggs at a time. On average, the female can lay around 30 batches of eggs in her lifetime. The hatched young look the same as adult cockroaches, but smaller and without wings. Depending on the conditions and type, a cockroach can live for up to 12 months. These insects are cold-blooded and thrive in warm, humid conditions. This is why buildings in the northern parts of Australia are particularly prone to infestations.



Common hiding spots for cockroaches

Cockroaches prefer to live in kitchens and other food preparation areas, so they can feed off food spills and have access to water. Hiding spots for the household cockroach include:cracks in wallsconfined spaces, such as behind the refrigerator, in a pantry or underneath a stack of magazines, newspapers or cardboard boxesany furniture items that are generally left undisturbedkitchen cupboardsbelow sinksaround water heatersin drains and grease trapsgardens.