Summer is coming and with it one of the most hated and feared insects; cockroaches. Plagues of these insects are common, and thanks to their exoskeleton, they seem indestructible. Although the first instinct pushes us to crush them with a newspaper or a shoe, the reality is that it is the least we should do. Although we may think we are done with them, these insects have a highly flexible morphology that allows them to support 900 times their weight, and they can even pretend to be dead and then get up and continue their march.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), they are “unhygienic scavengers”, and in addition to being repugnant, they are carriers of diseases such as salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus that can cause dysentery, diarrhea, cholera and typhoid fever.
The immortal insect; the cockroach
It is a type of hemimetabolous insect with a flattened body. As if that were not enough, there are more than 4500 known species and more than 500 genera. It is often said that cockroaches would be able to survive a nuclear attack, but the truth is that they would not (thank God). However, it is true that several studies have revealed that they are capable of withstanding a force of 18G, which is 10 times the force of Earth’s gravity. They also support 900 times their own weight. All this thanks to their flexible exoskeleton, which allows them to withstand pressures that would be directly lethal for humans.
How to get rid of pests?
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see a cockroach? There are 3 types of people with their corresponding reactions. On the one hand, those who run away without looking back, leaving the cockroach stunned by such a recital of screams. On the other hand, the brave nature lovers who seem to fear nothing, who are capable of grabbing them by an antenna and returning them to the garden. And finally, those who consider that any object nearby will serve as a lethal weapon and instinctively throw it at them with all the aim they can muster.
If your idea is to eliminate the intruder insect and its colleagues, none of these options would be the most appropriate.The main contraindication against cockroaches is to crush them. Because of their exoskeleton and the amount of pressure they are able to withstand, they often do not die, but are “wounded”. According to etymologist Ryan Smith, “Because of their strong exoskeleton, they can withstand great force. The exoskeleton is also flexible, which allows them to easily switch their energy to their legs for running. This is also the reason why a simple newspaper punch will not successfully kill them”.
To make matters worse, these insects are capable of surviving without eating for months with very serious injuries, so hitting them with a newspaper does not ensure that you have finished with them. According to experts, the best choice is to fumigate, because if they do not ingest poison or their exoskeleton is not destroyed, they are able to play dead and continue their march past the danger.
WHO advice
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines them as “unhygienic scavengers”. This is because, in addition to their unpleasant appearance, they are carriers of diseases that are harmful to humans. Crushing them can cause them to release salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus, bacteria that cause thyroid fever, cholera, dysentery or diarrhea. That is why we must follow the indications of the experts, and proceed to a good fumigation to put an end to these unwanted visitors.