WHY I DON'T LIKE ROACHES

Roaches (cockroaches) are considered vermin by a lot of people including myself. Just a sight of them in some people’s space (homes, offices, cars, etc.) can set in a panic attack. I’m not disputing the fact that they play important roles in nature. There are different species of roaches that are found on earth. They can be found in tropical forests, grassland, heathland, moorland, savanna and on different continents. Some species are so beautiful that you may wish to keep them as pets.

Roaches can eat virtually anything that they can sink their teeth (mandibles and maxilla) in. From decomposing plant materials, dead animals, leaves, fruits, human and animal faeces, shoes, books and our food just to name a few. Their feeding breaks down decomposing plant and animal matter, hence fast-tracking decomposition and nutrient cycling within the environment. Their faeces also enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients which plants utilize for their own good. Roaches are also a healthy snack for some birds and animals. This means that roaches also play an important role in the food chain. They are also a valuable source of raw materials in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

Roaches are tough little insects with some serious supper power. They can survive up to a month without food and survive up to 2 weeks without water (the longest I’ve stayed is a day without food and I’ve never tried staying for a day without water). Cut off their head and they can still leave up to a week. They will die of starvation instead of suffocation because they don’t breathe through their mouth or nose. They breathe through openings called tracheae on their body.

Despite all the good they do in the environment, I still don’t like them. Roaches are attracted to human food, I don’t know maybe because of the sweet aroma that comes with our food. They feed on our food, vomit on them, defecate on them and leave behind a whole lot of pathogenic microorganisms such as E.coli, Salmonella spp, etc. These microorganisms are known to cause Urinary Tract Infection, food poisoning, diarrhoea, typhoid and other ailments in humans. So leaving your food uncovered is a terrible idea.

The stench that comes from roaches is strong enough to trigger some serious allergic reactions in some people especially those with respiratory ailments such as asthma.

Roaches thrive in a dirty environment, so leaving your home dirty is like creating a paradise for these vermins. They feed on your clothes, shoes, books, furniture, etc.

Don’t think you are safe. If roaches are in your home they can crawl on you and defecate on your face while you sleep. If you are the type that sleeps with your mouth open, then have it in mind that a cockroach may come in for a kiss.