So, you think you know all there is to know about the cockroach. Do you even care to know? Most of us don’t take a second glance or give more thought to one than the time it takes to squash it. The cockroach is, in fact, one of the most unique creatures you will ever find anywhere. The line between fact and myth is very thin, and you may be surprised to find that even the most unrealistic stories surrounding the cockroach are, in fact true.

Surely the most popular myth about the cockroach is that of all living creatures, they are the ones that would survive a nuclear disaster. This is actually true - in part. Cockroaches are able to withstand up to 15 times the amount of radiation that would affect a human, but they are not entirely immune to it. It is suggested that a great factor in their survival is their instinct to live under shelter and in tight spaces. An adult cockroach can squeeze into an area the size comparable to the thickness of a quarter.

The overall reaction to a cockroach when seen by humans is to kill it. This is usually done with bug spray, which not all times works. The natural response is to squish it, but if you are going to do it, do it right. A cockroach can run up to three miles per hour, which is pretty fast for a bug on foot, so if you do happen to stomp on it with your shoe, make sure you get the whole bug. A cockroach can live up to a week without a head, and its cause of death is not from the wound, but that without a mouth it cannot drink. A cockroach can only live a week without water, but it can survive up to a month without food.

We may hate them, but we should give some thanks to the size common cockroaches are. The American cockroach, which is generally the ones most commonly seen, are usually around two inches long. For people in South America, one species of cockroach can grow to four inches long and have a wingspan of nine inches. It may be hard to believe, but cockroaches of this size are popular “pets” and can live and be bred in captive.

Whether we like them or not, cockroaches are here to stay. They have been around practically since the beginning of time, and certain to remain to the end. As creepy as most people think they are, it should be said that they are interesting - at least from a distance.