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Can Cockroaches Live Without Their Head?
August 18, 2021
Cockroaches are common pests in homes. They are believed to be older than dinosaurs, and they have been able to…
Cockroaches are common pests in homes. They are believed to be older than dinosaurs, and they have been able to be around for that long because they are born survivors. According to scientists, roaches can even survive a nuclear war, with their excellent survival skills setting them apart from other household pests. So, do not be shocked to see a cockroach doing the rounds in your house while entirely headless.
How Is It Possible For Cockroaches To Live Having No Head?
Unlike humans, roaches can do just fine without a head. The main reason is decapitation in humans leads to massive blood loss, subsequently causing low blood pressure, which immensely affects the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to critical tissues. In addition, humans breathe through the nose and sometimes the mouth. So, with decapitation, breathing stops. Humans also cannot eat without the head. And without the brain, vital body functions collapse, resulting in death. How then are headless cockroaches able to survive?
1. Unique Circulatory System
Cockroaches have a different circulatory system from humans. For blood to move around our bodies, tremendous pressure is needed. The cockroach vascular system is less extensive and does not have tiny capillaries, which requires very little pressure. When the head of a roach is severed, the neck seals off by clotting, preventing uncontrolled bleeding.
2. Breath Through Spiracles
Roaches breathe through openings along the body called spiracles, not through the nose and occasionally the mouth like we do. Also, their brain does not play any role in breathing, and their blood does not transport oxygen throughout the body. Instead, the spiracles supply the tissues with air through tubes known as the trachea.
3. Cold-Blooded Animals
Cockroaches are cold-blooded, which also helps in their survival when beheaded. Being cold-blooded means roaches never use the energy acquired from food to heat their bodies. Therefore, they can survive with less food compared to humans. Cockroaches can go for many weeks on a single meal. As long as there are no predators, roaches can live for a while without a head.
4. Active Nervous System
Roaches have clumps of ganglia (nerve tissues) distributed throughout each of their body segments. The clumps can perform all the primary nervous functions necessary for reflexes. So, even without the brain, the body can still function normally, with the roach able to stand, move around, and react to touch.
Can A Cockroach Head Survive Separate From The Body?
It is not just the roach’s body that survives after beheading. The head can also function on its own. You will see the antennae waving back and forth for several hours until the head gets out of steam. If well refrigerated and nourished, the head can live longer than the body when separated.
Do Cockroaches Even Need A Head If They Can Survive Headless?
If they can survive without it, why then have it in the first place? It is good to know that the body gives a lot of sensory information to the head. And the brain cannot function optimally if it does not get these inputs. Therefore, the entire body has to remain intact. When a cockroach’s head is cut off, it also means the noggin glands in the head are cut off from the rest of the body. These glands are crucial in a roach’s life because they control maturation. Without the glands, the development of a roach is severely affected.
How Long Can A Cockroach Live Without Its Head?
There is no specific survival period as several factors determine how long a beheaded cockroach can survive. A roach with no head can live for several days up to weeks as long as normal bodily functions are maintained. However, the cockroach will eventually die after some time due to starvation.
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Why Do Roaches Come Out At Night?
August 18, 2021
The sight of cockroaches around your house is never good news. A home invasion by these problematic pests is terrible…
The sight of cockroaches around your house is never good news. A home invasion by these problematic pests is terrible for both people and property. Roaches can spread diseases, damage fabric, and even destroy electronics. Worse, they can do all that without being detected. Cockroaches are nocturnal by nature, meaning they come out at night when most humans are sound asleep looking for food and mating opportunities. During the day, they hide in their nests. Seeing a cockroach in the daytime is a sign of significant infestation. You should therefore contact a pest control company to help eliminate them. Applying DIY methods can help up to a certain point where things go out of hand.
What Do Roaches Like?
Cockroaches like warm, moist environments as they are suitable for breeding and multiplying. Besides the warmth and moisture, they love to forage for food at night-time under cover of darkness as it is safer. Naturally nocturnal, roaches come out at night to mate as well.
Do Cockroaches Like Light Or Dark?
Contrary to what many people believe, cockroaches never run away from the light because they fear it. They do not get intimidated by natural or artificial light. It is just that they like hiding in dark environments to avoid predators. And also the fact that they are nocturnal insects. But cockroach species that live in the wild are known to be active where there is light. Sometimes, even household roaches can be spotted moving towards TV screens at night.
Cockroaches are good learners too. They are so smart to know that with the flick of a switch, they have been discovered. Once you turn on the lights, all roaches will immediately scamper away into their hiding places to avoid being spotted. They have evolved to be swift runners, enabling them to escape human and predator attacks quickly. That is why they can survive longer than most other pests that invade homes.
When Do Cockroaches Sleep?
You would expect cockroaches to be night sleepers just like humans. But these insects are nocturnal. So, when do they take a much-needed rest? You need to know that roaches have a circadian rhythm, a sleep-wake cycle alternating between inactive/asleep and active/wakeful periods. When awake, roaches actively look for mates, water, and food. Most are active in the first hours of the night when the lights are off. A few hours are enough for them to mate and feed. However, if there is a massive cockroach infestation in your home, they may spend more hours searching for food. Finding cockroaches in the morning hours signals heavy infestation.
Roaches have three states of activity. Locomotion, which occurs at night whereby cockroaches engage in all manner of activities, is the first and most active state. In this state, cockroaches run or fly to escape from danger. The second state involves the movement of limbs and antennae, but the roach remains immobile and inactive. The third state is characterised by complete immobility, with the cockroach not moving at all. And this is the state that is likened to sleep in humans. During the day, cockroaches are either in the second or third state.
Can Cockroaches Harm You During The Night?
Roaches seem harmless, but this is never the case. Therefore, be wary if they infest your home. These filthy pests are disease carriers and spreaders. You can get sick when exposed to them. They can cause cholera and leprosy, among other illnesses. People living in homes with a cockroach infestation are highly susceptible to asthma and other allergic issues. Sometimes cockroaches infest air vents, making things far worse, especially if you have respiratory problems. Before you go to sleep, make sure you clean your face and hands to remove any crumbs because cockroaches like the German roach can bite as they feed on the free food.
Signs Cockroaches Are In Your House
Spotting cockroaches can be challenging because they are primarily active at night when you are probably asleep. But there are some signs they leave behind that indicate their presence. These include droppings that resemble specks of black pepper or coffee grounds and brown, oblong, almost translucent egg casings. Roaches also like inhabiting warm, humid areas like the bathroom, kitchen, basement, and laundry. They live and breed in such places, and there is where you are likely going to find them.
How To Keep Roaches Away From Your Home
Seeing one or two roaches moving around your house during the day indicates a cockroach infestation. There could be many other cockroaches in hiding waiting to come out when it is dark. Cockroaches breed rapidly, and you can find their eggs scattered all over your house. If not dealt with promptly and effectively, roaches can overrun your home within a short time. Take the measures below to avoid such a scenario.
- Reduce litter and get rid of potential water and food sources. Do not leave scraps in the open, fix any water leaks, and keep wet items off the floor.
- Check for potential entry and hiding spots and seal them off or apply an insecticide. Some of the places to caulk include cracks in walls and gaps around sinks.
- Improve the sanitation in and around your home. Clean all drawers, counters, and floors and clear any dirt outdoors.
- Vacuum your entire house regularly to get rid of cockroach eggs.
- Dry all the moist areas like under sinks and around drains. And use a dehumidifier to remove indoor moisture.
Suppose cockroaches already infest your home, schedule professional extermination. A cockroach control expert can help out in detecting and eliminating roaches. They are well trained and equipped to ensure the cockroach problem in your home is a thing of the past.
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Learn About The Lifespan Of A Cockroach
August 18, 2021
People deal with household pests every year, with cockroaches being the most common. The first step towards controlling and eliminating…
People deal with household pests every year, with cockroaches being the most common. The first step towards controlling and eliminating cockroach infestation is knowing more about cockroach lifespan. Understanding cockroaches can help you deal with them promptly and entirely.
Where Did Cockroaches Come From?
It is estimated that cockroaches were among the first insects on earth. Fossil studies have revealed that roaches originated in North America almost 350 million years ago before they acquainted themselves with Eurasia and later on moved to other regions worldwide, having to adapt to colder climates. Cockroaches have evolved together with humans and are more predominant in tropical areas but can live anywhere humans are. They have survived for millions of years due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and withstand long periods of hardship.
How Fast Is A Cockroach?
Cockroaches are the fastest insects on earth and can dart quicker than an eyeblink. At full speed, roaches can cover fifty body lengths in a second. For larger animals, that can be equated to a speed of 200 miles per hour. The reason why cockroaches run fast is their legs. They have six legs, each with three knees. Thus, they have eighteen knees altogether. Therefore, their movement is precise thanks to the many joints, with little wasted movements that can slow them down. The legs also feature tiny hairs that are sensitive to even the smallest of movements, enabling cockroaches to react fast and can even detect when you enter the room they are occupying.
The Lifecycle Of Cockroaches
Understanding the lifecycle of a cockroach goes a long way toward helping get rid of these pests entirely. All species of roaches undergo three life stages – egg, nymph, and adult.
Egg Stage
A female roach can lay from ten to fifty eggs at one go. Cockroaches make nests and lay their eggs in moist, warm, dark, tight spaces. They ensure that the eggs are highly protected and in a conducive environment. Typically, it takes one to two months for the eggs to hatch. However, depending on the species, the eggs can hatch slower or faster than that. With their high level of reproduction, roaches can be challenging to control. Therefore, early discovery of a cockroach infestation is essential in controlling its spread.
Nymph Stage (Baby Cockroach)
Once the eggs hatch, the nymph stage begins, whereby a roach undergoes several moults. Moulting cockroaches shed their exoskeletons to develop and grow bigger. Initially, nymphs are white before darkening to the standard brown pigment as they mature. Depending on the species, a female roach may take care of its babies. The nymph stage lasts a couple of months up to one year.
Adult Stage (Developed Cockroach)
After the final moult, a cockroach becomes a sexually active and fully functional adult. The females begin attracting their male counterparts to start reproduction. An adult roach measures one and a half to three inches long, is mostly brown, and has three pairs of legs, two pairs of wings, and one pair of long antennae. While many species have wings, a majority do not fly, instead crawling from place to place.
How Long Can A Cockroach Live?
A cockroach can live for one to two years. However, some species can live for up to a decade. Their high reproduction rate, large population, hard exoskeleton, and extraordinary survival instincts enable them to live for many years.
A Day In The Life Of An Adult Roach
Roaches are nocturnal, meaning they are most active in the dark. Adult roaches usually engage in three primary activities throughout their lifespan.
Hiding
Cockroaches spend most of their time hiding. Even adult roaches with their bigger bodies can squeeze into tiny holes and cracks. Their hiding nature makes it challenging to know the extent of the infestation. But if you spot a roach or two in the open, a heavy cockroach infestation could be likely.
Eating
If a roach is not in hiding, it is out there looking for food. Though cockroaches require little food for survival, they seek it daily. They eat anything they can find, including paper, fingernails, book bindings, and hair.
Breeding
Cockroaches are great breeders. A single female can lay eight or more eggs cases in its lifetime, bringing up three hundred to four hundred offspring.
What Does Cockroach Activity Mean?
Active cockroaches are trouble. Their movement in sewers and dumpsites leaves pathogens on their bodies. When they invade your home, they deposit all that messy stuff in drawers, shelves, and even food. The other problem is with their droppings which contain dangerous bacteria and egg casings that can cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
How Long Can A Roach Live Without Food And Water?
A cockroach can live for up to one month without eating. However, roaches are susceptible to dehydration and cannot survive with no water for more than a week. Even three days of thirst can make them very weak. When hungry and dehydrated, they start to shed weight and eventually die. Another surprising thing to know is that cockroaches can live without their head for several days and even weeks.
How To Know If A Cockroach Is Hungry Or Thirsty
One of the ways to eliminate cockroaches in your home is to deprive them of water and food. And here are the signs you have succeeded:
- Reduced Activity: With little to no water and food available, roaches become weak and lethargic. They stop scurrying around, and their numbers begin dropping. Within a few weeks, you will not spot any cockroaches roaming around.
- Dead Roaches: Some cockroaches will drop dead around the house. A large number will die in their nesting places out of sight and reach.
If your efforts are in vain and cockroaches continue infesting your home, it is high time for professional roach control.
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Identifying And Eliminating Roach Infestation In Your House
August 18, 2021
Cockroaches invade homes looking for food and water. Once infested, a home becomes unhealthy and uncomfortable to live in. As…
Cockroaches invade homes looking for food and water. Once infested, a home becomes unhealthy and uncomfortable to live in. As one of the most invasive and destructive household pests, roaches are bad news for your wellbeing and property. To make matters worse, spotting them can be challenging because they appear at night when the lights are off and you are asleep. And during the day, they will hide in hard to see and reach areas. But if you are keen enough, you can detect a cockroach problem early and deal with it promptly.
Signs Of Cockroach Infestation
A roach infested house is not that hard to recognise. There are several signs to look out for, with cockroach faeces being the most outright. Cockroaches defecate regularly, releasing tiny, black droppings that resemble ground pepper or coffee grounds. The more roaches in your house, the more droppings you will find. Below are other signs of a roach infested home.
Odd Smell
Cockroaches emit a strong, unpleasant odour. The more extensive and more prolonged the infestation, the greater the odour. The smell is usually described as musty, oily, and pungent.
Egg Cases
Female roaches lay lots of eggs in casings known as ootheca. Finding these casings around appliances, furniture, wet spots, and dark corners is an indication of a massive infestation waiting to happen.
Nesting
Seeing a roach in your home, especially during the day, means there are many more hiding somewhere. Check for nests in damp, dark places like under sinks, behind the refrigerator, and inside cabinets as cockroaches usually hide in such places.
Dead Bodies
Seeing dead cockroaches can mean two things. Either there is a heavy infestation, or the infestation is dying out. Since roaches come out at night, not all make it back to their nest alive. Therefore, you are most likely to find lifeless roaches around your house in the morning. Where a cockroach drops dead, know there is a nest nearby.
Damage
It could be tricky to notice damages caused by roaches, but it is possible with a significant infestation. Cockroaches chew on clothing and other materials made of fabric. They can also damage your electronic devices by ruining internal electrical components leading to expensive repairs or replacements.
Where You Will Find Roaches
Found a roach in your home of late? Most likely, you found it in a dark, warm, moist area of your house. Cockroaches thrive where there is warmth, darkness, and moisture. Therefore, if you find a roach in your bed, then your bedroom is probably overly humid, not too hot nor too cold, and poorly lit. And if you find a cockroach outside your house, it will not be long before it finds its way into your house. Roaches reproduce fast, and if their population is not controlled as soon as possible, they can overrun your home. Some of the locations to inspect for cockroach infestation include:
- Kitchen: Search for roaches under and behind appliances such as ovens and refrigerators and inside cabinets where food is stored. Ensure there is no build-up of dirty utensils in the kitchen sink and food crumbs on the kitchen floor.
- Bathroom: Showers, pipes, bathtubs, and drains in the bathroom offer a moist environment where cockroaches can thrive. Fix leaks and remove wet towels.
- Laundry: Cockroaches usually hide under dryers, washers, and stacks of clothes.
- Basement: With roaches able to squeeze their bodies through tiny spaces, you will find them in cracks in the foundation. The basement’s humid and protective environment makes for a great haven for cockroaches.
The Dangers Of Cockroaches
Though cockroaches provide several ecological benefits, they cause more negative effects. Since they eat anything they encounter and frequent some of the most disgusting places, they are considered one of the filthiest household pests. They leave behind all the waste they collect on the way in your house, posing great health risks to you and your family. Their bodies and droppings have bacteria that can result in diseases like cholera and leprosy and allergens that can trigger allergic reactions and escalate asthma symptoms. Therefore, take immediate action when you spot roaches around your house.
What To Do When You Find A Cockroach
When cockroaches infest your home, you need to take proper and prompt action lest the infestation becomes massive. Here are the steps to take:
- Identify the Cockroach Nest: Roaches usually lay and hide eggs in their nests, and finding their nesting places is excellent for immediate elimination.
- Block All Entry Points: Cockroaches enter homes mainly through holes and cracks in walls and the foundation. They can also find their way inside through piping, the garage, or garbage. Seal gaping areas and fix leaky or broken pipes.
- Pesticides, Baits, and Traps: Something toxic to cockroaches like boric acid can help wipe out the infestation.
- Professional Extermination: For a more strategic and lasting solution, consider hiring a cockroach control expert.
Other Facts To Know About Cockroaches
Do Roaches Fly?
While cockroaches have wings, most are not flyers, instead using their legs to move around. If you see a roach kind of flying, it is just gliding. Roaches open their wings to glide from upper to lower surfaces. They cannot fly as well as bees and flies.
Do Cockroaches Make Noise?
Recognising cockroach infestation through cockroach sounds is not that easy. Anyway, roaches can be slightly heard when they are all together. You might hear them crawl around or flap their wings. The Madagascar hissing cockroach is the loudest roach species. It makes hissing sounds when scared or attracting a mate.
How Do You Repel Cockroaches?
You can prevent roaches from entering your house with the use of repellents. Essential oils, including lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint, are effective cockroach repellents. Additionally, cockroaches dislike the smell of lemons, coffee grounds, bay leaves, and cucumbers.
Cockroaches Die On Their Back
Roaches always die belly up reason being they have top-heavy bodies. Before dropping dead, they lose their muscle strength, especially those with skinny legs. Their body weight then becomes too much for them, thus toppling over and dying on their back.
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Understanding The Life Cycle And Reproduction Rate Of Mice
August 18, 2021
To have a liveable home, you should rid it of household pests. Pests like mice can be a nuisance if…
To have a liveable home, you should rid it of household pests. Pests like mice can be a nuisance if left to run wild. Mice are destructive little creatures regarded as one of the most invasive species in the world. Their success can be linked to an active life cycle and a high breeding rate. The house mouse is a small mammal with a pointed snout, hairy body, long naked tail, and small rounded ears.
Mice Life Cycle
First, the females experience heat for a period of 4 to 5 days. After mating and getting pregnant, they give birth three weeks later, giving rise to 6 to 8 pups up to 10 times a year.
The Birth And Growth Of A Mouse
Newborns are blind, hairless, and without ears. They gradually start seeing, moving, and developing fur after two weeks. Mothers nurse them for 21 days, during which the pups grow rapidly. By the fourth day, their ears are fully developed. Their hair starts to grow on the sixth day. And on the tenth to the twelfth day, they have a coat of fur.
The pups are weaned on the twenty-first day, with the males moving away from their mother’s territory while the females remain for some time. Around two months after birth, they reach adulthood, whereby they become sexually mature and active.
Mice Reproduction Rate
It seems all mice do is breed. In a year, a female mouse gets pregnant around 5 to 10 times. After getting pregnant, it only takes between 19 and 21 days to give birth.
Mouse Litter Size
On average, a litter has between 6 and 8 pups, meaning one female mouse can produce at least 30 babies in a year. After giving birth, the female can mate immediately afterward, with a new litter coming up within 25 days. Worse, a female baby mouse matures in 6 weeks and begins reproducing, ensuring continued mice breeding. Again, the indoor environment promotes more reproduction. And within a short time, a mice infestation can become significant. Females continue being reproductive until they die.
Life Span Of Mice
Mice live for about 12 months outdoors compared to around 2 to 3 years indoors. The difference in lifespan is because outside mice are preyed on by large birds. It can also become too hot or too cold outside. Inside the house, mice are not exposed to predators and harsh weather conditions. The obvious implication is that indoor mice have a longer time to cause problems in your home. Add to that their high rate of reproduction, and you can see how problematic mice can be.
The Dangers Of Mice
Be wary of mice in your home because they can lead to the following adverse effects:
- They spread lice and diseases.
- They damage stuff through gnawing and scratching.
- They breed future generations that ensure the infestation persists.
- They eat up your food and contaminate it.
- They chew on electrical wires and cords, likely causing appliance failures or even starting fires.
- Their nests in air ducts cause unpleasant odours indoors.
Signs Of Mice Infestation
Mice can be quiet and manage to stay hidden for quite a while. Below are signs to uncover them:
- Sights of mice
- Scratching sounds
- Scratched or gnawed objects and surfaces
- A pungent ammonia-like scent
- Faeces and urine stains
- Grease marks on walls caused by oil and dirt on the hairs of mice
- Footprints around less than half an inch long
- A nest made of soft materials like newspaper
How To Get Rid Of Mice
Here are various proven methods of eradicating mice:
Block Entryways
Use steel wool or any other kind of caulk to seal cracks and holes leading into your house, no matter how tiny they are. Target openings in walls, vents, utility pipes, and the foundation. Sealing off entry points prevents access by mice.
Use Mouse Traps
Lay several traps around your house. Use a mix of glue traps, wooden traps, bait traps, and multiple-capture traps. Using multiple traps ensures even those mice that are familiar with a specific type of trap are caught.
Load up the traps with mouse baits like peanut butter, dried fruit, chocolate, or the kind of food they eat up in your home. You can change the bait if it does not seem to be working.
Place the traps in areas where you see signs of mice like droppings. Make sure the traps are directly in the path of mice so that they run directly into the bait rather than running over it. Change the trap locations after every two days.
Use Bait Stations
A bait station is a poisonous meal wrapped in plastic, paper, or cellophane that mice can gnaw through. When mice eat the bait, they eventually die. The downside of this method is that it is not safe for pets and kids.
Good Sanitary Practices
Clear away food sources such as crumbs by vacuuming rooms and wiping down surfaces associated with cooking and dining. Mice can live on 3 to 4 grams of food a day and are easily attracted to scraps. Do not leave leftovers in the open by putting them in airtight containers. Go a step further and secure the trash can. And remember to remove debris and possible nesting areas.
Get A Cat
Cats are natural predators of mice. Get a cat to help scare away mice from your house.
Apply Peppermint Oil
Mice hate the smell of peppermint oil, which is one of the best mouse repellents. Dip cotton balls in the oil and strategically place them where mice are likely to pass through.
Contact Pest Control Specialists
Professional pest controllers have adequate means of ridding your home of mice. They put the right products and strategies in action to eliminate existing mice and prevent future infestation.
Bottom Line
The presence of mice in your home can cause health, financial, and even social problems. Knowing the life cycle and reproduction rate of mice is the first step in determining how to get rid of a mice infestation effectively.