High-density urban areas (Hong Kong, Paris, New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Rome, Manilla, Cairo, Mexico City) are all good environments for cockroaches to survive in. However, most species prefer warm and moist—meaning Singapore and Hong Kong have more than Paris or New York.
The largest cockroach farm is near Xichang, Sichuan, southwestern China, where it breeds six billion cockroaches a year.
A: Supposed Myth: Roaches are everywhere. The Facts: That's a myth, but just barely. There are species of roaches on every continent except one. Roaches are adaptable and find ways to survive in most environments, just not in Antarctica.
Cockroaches tend to prefer dark, moist places to hide and breed and can be found behind refrigerators, sinks and stoves, as well as under floor drains and inside of motors and major appliances.
Unique Facts: Oriental cockroaches are sometimes called "water bugs" because they come out of drains, and "black beetle cockroaches" because of their smooth, dark bodies. This species creates a strong smell and is considered one of the dirtiest of all the cockroaches.
[Coyote Hills Regional Park] Friendly Cockroach - Luridiblatta trivittata. Adults are small, and may be mistaken for nymphs of other Bay Area species possessing wings. Its behavior is also a key to recognition. Unlike most cockroaches, the Friendly cockroach often does not flee from humans.
It might be difficult to believe, but the cockroach might be the “cleanest” species of insect.
Australian cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
Australian cockroaches are most commonly found in warm sub-tropical to tropical environments and usually live outside in greenhouses, in and around shrubs and trees, around woodpiles and under bark or leaf litter in gardens.
Roach Repellents
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
Cockroach lifespan
Each species of cockroach has their own estimated lifespan but on average, cockroaches live for about one year. Factors such as food supply, habitat and climate affect lifespan. American cockroaches can live for about one year while German cockroaches are estimated to live for about 100 days.
Cockroach Bites
They have been recorded to eat human flesh of both the living and the dead, although they are more likely to take a bite of fingernails, eyelashes, feet and hands. The bites may cause irritation, lesions and swelling. Some have suffered from minor wound infections.
Once Lord Howe Island and its surrounding small archipelago – 600 kilometres offshore from New South Wales – was home to a vast population of cockroaches. No one knows exactly how the species' ancestor made its way to Lord Howe.
In the immature (nymph) stage, American cockroaches are wingless and incapable of flight. Adults have useful wings and can fly for short distances. If they start from a high place, such as a tree, they can glide for some distance. However, despite their ability to do so, American cockroaches aren't regular fliers.
Megaloblatta longipennis
This cockroach, which measures over three and a half inches in length and over an inch and a half in width, can be found in Peru, Ecuador and Panama.
The German cockroach is considered to be the worst species of cockroach for many reasons. Their long, dark antenna and light brown to tan coloration make them difficult to spot scuttling around in dark, cluttered areas of a home.
Boric acid Some people find this to be the best option to kill roaches. Boric acid can work too, the only downside is that sometimes roaches will go away as soon as they smell boric acid.
Dusts – A few insecticides used for cockroach control are applied as dusts or powders. Most familiar to householders are boric acid and diatomaceous earth. For controlling cockroaches, boric acid tends to be more effective. Roaches succumb to boric acid after crawling over treated surfaces.
Although many adult cockroaches have wings, most species do not fly. Adult American and Australian cockroaches will fly, but only in warmer weather.
The Australian Cockroach is one of the larger types of cockroaches. It is very dark brown and has yellow markings on the pronotum & forewings. Because this cockroach prefers to eat plants, you will often find them in greenhouses and under bark and leaves in gardens.
Cockroach Poison – Are cockroaches in Australia dangerous? Cockroaches are not poisonous, however, they do carry and transmit disease. Cockroaches can emerge from places such as sewers and drains, compost and rubbish bins.
Bonus–The Laziest Insect in the World: Zoologger
It's one thing to snooze most of the day away and only expend enough energy to feed. It's quite another to freeload at someone else's expense! That's exactly what the Zoologger beetle does, a recently discovered species native to Cambodia.
The Lord Howe Island Phasmid or Land Lobster, Dryococelus australis, may be the rarest insect in the world and is possibly also the rarest invertebrate.