Why Are Cockroaches Such Stubborn Pests?

There is no denying that cockroaches do a great job in living up to their title as pests. The sight of these little creatures are repulsive, abhorrent and even the thought of them can be rather revolting. Most people detest these vermin and a majority develop some form of phobia towards them. You can probably count on your fingers, the number of cockroach lovers that exist in this world. Most 'cockroach experts' have earned their title as scientists and from the experiments or research that they have done on the subject. The rest probably work for a pest control company of some sort. Bottom line, we can all agree that cockroaches are pests.

Why do we hate these seemingly harmless looking insects? Why don't we find them cute and cuddly, but rather, creepy and crawly? Why then, should such pests, that are nothing but a nuisance to the human race still be part of the food chain? The reality is that cockroaches are extremely filthy insects, because they live everywhere and anywhere and eat almost anything. These dirty little creatures contaminate food and surfaces that they touch, destroy paper products and fabrics, leaving stains as well as unpleasant odours wherever they live. Worst of all, because of what they eat and where they scurry about, cockroaches are carriers of diseases that can be harmful to humans hence a huge threat to our health and well-being.

A cockroach infestation at home certainly is not a glamorous event but rather, a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Being completely clean and tidy does not at all mean that you are safe from cockroach visitations. These rascals can enter even the cleanest of homes. Roaches may have followed you home without your knowledge, perhaps in a grocery bag or you may have unintentionally brought home with you some roach eggs that were soon to be ripe and ready for hatching. Their flattened and versatile bodies allow them to enter homes through pipes, tiny gaps, doorways and cracks. Of course, these unwanted visitors are more likely to stay longer and make themselves at home in places that are dirty, especially where there are food scraps lying around, as well as warm, moist and dark areas.

The challenge we face with getting rid of these pests is that cockroaches are one of the hardiest insects on the earth. Even though they thrive on water, food and warm shelter, which are their three basic necessities, there are some cockroaches that have been known to live up to three months without food and up to one month without water. Besides that, some are able to survive 45 minutes without air and when submerged underwater for half an hour, still recover without drowning. Due to their stubborn will to live, it is not a simple or straightforward procedure to completely eradicate these pests once they have infested an area.

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