WHY DO PEOPLE HATE THEM?

Although cockroaches themselves are harmless, they may carry germs to food as they crawl over it. Roaches also give off an awful smell in defense, and this odour may also ruin food or contaminate kitchen utensils. Roaches can also damage fabrics and book bindings by chewing on them.

Although many people think cockroaches are quite disgusting, they are important recyclers and decomposers that actually help keep our world clean! Generally, even if you live in a building that has roaches (and most buildings in cities do have them even if you've never seen one!), keeping your own space clean and always putting all food away properly will stop them coming to your place!

Roaches are mainly active at night, so they hide in dark places during the day. They like hiding in tight, warm, well-protected spaces such as cracks in walls and floors. When foraging for food at night in homes, they are attracted to areas where food and food scraps are left around.

MORE FACTS

Female roaches produce egg capsules containing anywhere from 12-36 eggs. These capsules are usually dropped anywhere on to the ground a day or two after being produced, but some species will glue them in a protected place or carry them partially sticking out from the back of the body. Young roaches, similar in appearance to adults but without wings, come out from the egg capsule in 1-3 months.

Cockroaches are scavengers, feeding on a variety of materials including dead insects, fabrics, and human food. Maturity is reached in 2 months to a year, depending upon living conditions. Adults live for about 10 months, mating often, and capable of producing up to three generations a year.