Do cockroaches have a purpose in life?

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Do cockroaches have a purpose in life?

October 22nd 2006 14:13

his very question was pondered as I tried to stamp out the little pests from my kitchen the other day. The electrician had just been in, and he fixed the display unit on the oven (which shorted out thanks to those infernal creatures).

So do these disgusting, annoying, ugly (from any angle really) creatures have any reason to live?

Well it turns out the parasites do play an important role in our vast ecology. They are part of the global food web – 'the circle of life'. Here is why:

Cockroaches eat just about anything. Being omnivore scavengers, they decompose and recycle the organic litter left behind by larger animals. The other big bonus is that cockroaches do not care about what they eat. Possessing a wide variety of bacteria and protozoa in their digestive system, they can eat everything!

This is one of the main reasons as to why cockroaches have survived for such a long period of time – 300 million years to be exact. Cockroaches declined in number as the earth’s climate changed periodically, but they are currently thriving due to human impact. The little scavengers live for two things – heat, and a decent feed (both of which we have in abundance). Humans have re-created the Utopia for cockroaches. Our homes are kept warm all year round, and we leave food lying all over the place. To top things off, there are plenty of places to hide for the cockroach – under the stove, in the dishwasher, behind the toaster – the list is endless.

Funnily enough, most cockroaches aren’t pests. There are almost 3,500 species of cockroach in the world, and only 10 are on the World Health Organisation list of human pests. The majority of the cockroaches do not care about humans and their houses – choosing instead to recycle the waste products that are left outside. They also serve as food to small mammals, birds, amphibians and lizards.

Now to get one of those amphibians or lizards as a pet!

If Only!

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Posted By: m*STAR - Category: Animals

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Comments

31 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by ThomasM

October 22nd 2006 14:35

Fuel Saving Advice
Heidi's Blog

I love that sign! Who knew those creatures actually served a purpose?

Blogtommy

Comment by Adele

October 22nd 2006 21:12

Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV

Excellent post. Your next assignment is to identify small predators for them. Afew for each continent. Wouldn't want to import a possible pest.

Comment by spain01

October 22nd 2006 21:32

Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
Fire News Blog

Congratulations. Well done. Love the title of the blog site. Perhaps, Question Everything: Believe nothing except ??

Comment by The Voices in my Head

October 23rd 2006 01:08

The Voices in my Head

I don't care about the ecosystem and all of that when it comes to cockroaches. I'll risk it. Get rid of 'em, I say.

Voices~

Comment by Luke

October 23rd 2006 01:31

Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior

Oh, so they serve a purpose do they?
Well why don't we all just fill our houses with them?

i hate 'em.

Comment by Lilla

October 23rd 2006 03:22

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Hi m....

Now I don't like them, but I don't have it in me to kill things either .... So I put them out and respect their ability to maintain the delicate balance with nature, before I arrived on the scene.

There is supposedly some scientific fact that supports the theory that, having been bombarded for so long with so many different insecticides, these hardened little critters will be the only thing to survive (and supersede) us if there is a nuclear war. Not a bad inheritance...

As always I enjoyed the daily read, loved the photo.

Lilla.

Comment by Tracy

October 23rd 2006 05:58

Movies and Life

I think their purpose is to terrorise me...I'm from England and I was mortified to discover that not only are they speedy, horrible little creatures that can crawl anywhere, they can also fly...it doesn't seem fair somehow..

Comment by Ash

October 23rd 2006 06:11

Flashes of memories

Apparently for every one cockroach you see above ground there are another 400 underground!! I`m not sure how true that is but I recall my Health teacher saying something along those lines.
Spiders are much the same - really is there any reason for a creature to have 8 legs and so many eyes? We have two of each and are right there at the top of the food chain!!

Ash

Comment by Tracy

October 23rd 2006 06:13

Movies and Life

Eeek, aaahhhh!!

Comment by Ahmed

October 23rd 2006 06:18

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

everything in this world serves a purpouse, if for anything, those cockroaches that annoy you live to do just that. It is their purpouse (so when you kill them you get a huge ego boost)

Comment by Bryn

October 23rd 2006 07:14

Horrorphile

I LOATHE cockroaches with a vehement and utter HATRED!!!!
Why? They epitomise filth to me. And they are creepy crawlies which give me the heebie jeebies.
The hiss too.
And they fly.
And they make disgusting scratchy sounds.
UGHH!!!!!

Comment by Damo

October 23rd 2006 07:16

What would pestercide technitians do for a living with out them?

Comment by Tracy

October 23rd 2006 07:30

Movies and Life

Well, therapists are making money out of my phobia....it all balances out if you asks me...

Comment by **m*STAR**

October 23rd 2006 11:02

This is true! If anything, they love to terrorise - and a lot of people are making money from these phobias/exterminations.

I also agree with Ash! The electrician that visited us (the one who fixed the display unit in the oven) told us that cockroaches come out to feed once a month. Now he said that if you see one cockroach at 2am (you know when u switch on the lights in the kitchen real fast, to catch them in the act) - that's fine.

But if you see about 20 feeding on your garbage and leftovers at 2am - it's time to move out! Cos there's plenty more of them hiding underneath as well...

I have been spraying cockroach repellant like crazy ever since he said that LOL.

Comment by historylass

October 23rd 2006 11:35

The Written Word
History Lass

Very informative article. I always thought the only purpose for cockroaches was to serve as a nickname for the NSW Rugby League team. Just don't tell me the purpose of moths. I prefer to think that they were a mistake.

Comment by 21st century moms

October 23rd 2006 13:13

I used to live in Florida where you could find there little terrorist everywhere, I'm now in sunny Spain and I don't see that many here but I'm glad to hear they have a purpose.

Comment by Always Eighteen

October 23rd 2006 13:16

Always Eighteen

I love that sign!

Cockroaches have been around since dinosaurs have been around.

Even though they're killable little things, maybe their purpose in life is to prove that they can continuously exist.

Comment by DuskDevi

October 24th 2006 23:42

Rugby World Cup 2007

Well...here's another purpose...

Found this on www.trendhunter.com

Your new bling pet!

"The Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Brooch is a live cockroach encrusted with Swarovski crystals (I’m sure the cockroaches like that). Anyway, for $80, you can get an exotic cockroach to crawl all over you while you scoff at your friends for being caught in 2005 (and thus, lacking live jewelry).

“These insects come in varied patterns and are decorated with the finest Austrian Swarovski crystal. Each roach takes about an hour of painstaking work to achieve his final magical glory. All roaches are male to ensure sterility, and come complete with a leash set. This consists of a gorgeous pin you attach to your clothing with a chain that clasps to the cockraoch’s carapace to keep him from running amok. The lifespan of these animals is approximately one year if housed and fed properly. This is not a guarantee, it is an estimate. Roaches love fresh bananas and must have access to fresh water at all times, a very damp paper towel or cotton ball will do the trick.” (Black Chandelier)"

*image courtesy of www.trendhunter.com

Comment by **m*STAR**

October 25th 2006 00:35

OMG I cannot believe they would do that to the poor thing! Fashion accessory or pest - that is a little inhumane I reckon...

A little bit disgusting too lol why would u want that crawling all over you ewwww. I guess fashion is getting wierder by the day!

Comment by DuskDevi

October 25th 2006 01:12

Rugby World Cup 2007

I agree, this is a little inhumane (incockroache?)...but at least they get fed bananas...true sign of financial wealth in Australia nowadays!!

What next? Bats as earrings? Boa chokers? Calamari rings??

Comment by Vimal

November 14th 2006 14:16

lol nice to know. And btw did u also know that cockroaches are the only thing that will survive a nuclear blast?

Comment by Anonymous

September 4th 2007 07:19

even i've pondered about cockroaches purpose in life
Really Long Link

Comment by Anonymous

September 30th 2007 18:15

i didnt know any of that!

Comment by GG

October 1st 2008 20:39

Thanks for information about roaches. However, the earth is only about 7,000 years old....not 300 million as you say. You might want to do some more research on how old the earth actually is....

Comment by Anonymous

December 16th 2008 05:57

BLAH that is just so nasty to know that they do actually have a freaking meaning in life. GAH. I was putting dishes away and when I went to put the pot away, which is under our stove, there it was! Well I couldnt go spraying it because then I would have to get all of the other pots hoping it still wasnt alive while I was touching them. So I let him slide. THEN I come into my room and a little sneak was trying to go under my dresser! BLEH they're so nasty I dont care if we do need them in life. I want them dead.

Comment by Anonymous

June 25th 2009 01:21

I really hate cockroaches. I'm so disgusted with them that I will not even kill them. I don't want to see them at all. I wish they didn't exist. And it's not only with cockroaches, it's with all other bugs too. =\

Yuck!

Comment by Anonymous

September 1st 2009 21:39

I have a thing to do at school about cockroaches and there purpose this helped me alot!!

Comment by Envec

March 17th 2010 09:46

They've Shrunk down over 65 million years after where gone they grow like a chia pet scare attack of the 6 foot roach!!!! EWWWWWWWW and there still be one that will always manage after you die to fall into your cereal bowl when you go to heaven, nirvana, or what ever afterlife you belive in

Comment by Anonymous

May 24th 2010 19:43

actually the earth is about 4.5 billion years old

Comment by Digusted

June 25th 2010 01:31

I just want to say, that I am glad so many other people hate (cringe) these cockroaches too. I for one can't stand the site of one, even if on the page of a text book, frankly. Yuck! I have the misfortune of coming across them every so often, here, in sunny, humid, south Florida. Help! I'm a gown man, and I can't stand seeing them, ever. I'm not afraid of them because they can't really do much, other than disgust you to death, but still. I jump 10 feet whenever one comes near me. I've had one land on me too! Aaaaah! They're fast as nothing else. Pieces of... I'm outta here.

Comment by Anonymous

July 2nd 2010 13:09

They are so gross who knew they have a purpose in life. My teacher said that their purpose was to freak and disgust people out. I really don't care what their purpose is, and why it's so important to life, when almost everyone wants them dead. Especially me.

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