What do roaches do

Roaches invade our homes and make those intimate spaces their own. As physical embodiments of filth and germs, they show that for all of our fortifications against dirt and disease, those efforts are ultimately futile. The true nature of that relationship — and the irrational fear it so often inspires — was something I was compelled to learn more about for very personal reasons.

That mission would require me to dig out the cockroach exoskeletons in my closet, explore intriguing new techniques to help us conquer insect fear, and ultimately confront the terror head-on, by journeying into the heart of six-legged darkness, at one of the premier cockroach labs in the world. Along the way, however, I would uncover an unsettling truth about the future of our relationship with roaches, and it would transform the way I see these life-long foes.

The giant cockroach - females can reach 10cm long SPL. Delving into cockroach lore, I quickly learned that our distaste for them goes way back. By the 19th Century, the handful of cockroach species that carved out a niche for themselves as pests had more or less achieved global domination.

Yet given what we know today, logically it does not make sense to fear cockroaches. Yes, cockroaches wallow in filth, but a case of food poisoning is probably about as bad as it gets if one of those pests skitters across your slice of pizza — a stroll through the park compared to malaria, yellow fever or dengue fever.

Still, anecdotally, many people suffer from katsaridaphobia, or cockroach phobia. Lockwood guesses that the number reaches well into the tens of millions, and Richard Kaae, an entomologist at California State University, thinks that cockroaches are the number one insects feared by humans. Quantifying the impacts of katsaridaphobia is difficult, however. The vast majority of people incapacitated by roaches never seek help, primarily because they want to do everything possible to avoid even speaking of those creatures.

I was one of them — until I decided to do something about it. They creep up on you I had been busy all afternoon in my New Orleans kitchen, preparing dinner for a guy I liked. After the meal, we headed outside to enjoy the magnolia-perfumed breeze drifting off the Mississippi. He stood there, stunned. That roach ruined my date. Psychologists report patients too terrified to get out of bed at night or to go to the kitchen for fear of encountering a cockroach.

Emily Driscoll, a documentary producer in New York City, once became trapped in a hotel room in India because a roach was sitting on the door handle. Andrew Stein, a computer programmer who grew up in New Orleans but now lives in New York, also recalls once being trapped by a roach. One night in his newly renovated Brooklyn apartment, he heard a familiar scratch-scratch-scratch coming from the bathroom.

Investigating, he found a large American cockroach clinging to his bath towel. He spent the next two hours camped out in the hallway, trying to work up the courage to go back inside and kill the roach. Their stench, too, is indicative of an underlying purpose. Finally, their sickly slick feel derives from a lipid-based wax that their cuticle secretes to prevent water loss. None of these traits bode well for the human observer.

Roaches are incredibly prolific, and hard to get rid of. But those physical and behavioural traits do not explain why roaches are so frequently the subjects of phobias.

As it turns out, the root of that fear often traces back to some traumatic experience in life, such as witnessing your mother scream at the sight of a roach. Often, that fear forms early, around the age of four or five. Some do manage to evade that fear, however. Philip Koehler, a veteran entomologist with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, probably spends more time voluntarily with cockroaches than almost anyone else in the world.

At his lab at the University of Florida, he keeps around a million of those insects. His fascination with those creatures does have its limits, however. Outside, a disturbingly realistic 6-foot tall metal cockroach sculpture, lovingly crafted by one of his former students, guards his door. The trust is not broken.

A hissing cockroach SPL. Several years ago, a woman in her 50s approached him. Was there anything he could do to help? He invited her to the lab for an informal session of exposure therapy, starting small by simply talking about roaches, then progressing to photos, pinned roaches and eventually the real deal. After several visits, her hyperventilating stopped and she was even able to hold a hissing cockroach. To get rid of cockroaches in your home, experts suggest keeping food sealed and stored properly, particularly in the kitchen, which should be cleaned daily to prevent crumbs and trash from building up.

Garbage should be disposed of regularly and stored in sealed containers. Homeowners should seek out and seal all cracks and holes in homes, including entry points for utilities and pipes, as these can serve as entranceways for the pest. In addition, basements and crawl spaces should be kept well ventilated and dry.

Cockroach control and management are important for health and safety reasons. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, use our zip code locator to find a licensed pest control professional in your area.

Watch this Cockroaches video for more facts and information on different types of cockroaches. Learn and how to keep these creepy crawlers out of your house. Stink bugs are an invasive species that release a smelly odor when crushed.

Find out how to keep them out of your home this fall. Noon Edition. Home Archives About Contact. Are Cockroaches Actually Useful? By Amy Breau Posted March 14, Media Player Error Update your browser or Flash plugin. The natural History of the Cockroach, on this Moment of Science. Day In The Sun million years ago, the Carboniferous period was the cockroaches' day in the sun so to speak.

Seal cracks and holes near doors, windows and other areas of the home. Monitor your home for signs of cockroaches: eggs, droppings, shed skins. Managing an infestation You might consider developing an Integrated Pest Management IPM plan that incorporates a variety of methods and knowledge of cockroach behavior to help manage an infestation.

Here are a few steps to help you take control of a cockroach infestation: Locate as many active hiding places as possible. Look for warm areas with access to water. Use sticky traps to identify areas of high cockroach activity. Continue prevention and monitoring efforts to make your home less habitable for the insects. Get rid of clutter that cockroaches might use for hiding and breeding. If you decide to use pesticides, choose least toxic options first and always read and follow label directions carefully.

Why do I have cockroaches in my home? Episode 14 - A pesticide specialist discusses common problems with cockroaches in the home and simple ways to prevent infestations. Download and Listen , View Transcript - min.