Cockroaches
A cockroach has a flat shiny body that enables him (or her) to slip through narrow cracks and hide in dark warm places; he usually comes out in search of food at night; he can run swiftly; he is a scavenger that will eat almost anything; he is very prolific; he is sly and adaptable.
lthough he cannot stand extreme cold, he has almost no natural enemies.
It is interesting to watch one of these wary insects. Its long whip-like antennae, longer than the body, are constantly waving to and fro in search of food and to warn of danger. It frequently grooms itself by drawing each leg, and then the antennae, through its mouth.
Cockroaches are abominated because of what they contaminate with their feet and their excretions, rather than for what they consume.
Travelling, across decaying matter and filth, they may spread the germs of diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis and cholera.
Since they thrive and are difficult to control in homes, restaurants, hospitals, bakeries, meat markets and food factories in spite of sanitary measures, they are a menace to public health.
Where they are numerous they are said to have an offensive odour. About the only thing in their favour is that they prey on bedbugs!
ockroaches are annoying and, when abundant, they are also destructive. Cockroaches, also known as water bugs, croton bugs, or palmetto bugs, destroy food and damage fabrics, book bindings, and other materials.
hen cockroaches run over food they leave filth and may spread disease. They secrete an oily liquid that has an offensive and sickening odour that may ruin food.
his odour may also be imparted to dishes that are apparently clean. Excrement in the form of pellets or an ink-like liquid also contributes to this nauseating odour. Some people are allergic to cockroaches and become ill.
Cockroaches, although more common in the warm tropics from where they originate, are frequently found in temperate areas, where they infest kitchens, restaurants and store-rooms. They will feed on refuse, human faeces and other potentially infected matter, and a wide range of pathogenic organisms have been isolated from these insects in domestic situations.
Cockroaches frequenting such areas will walk over food intended for human consumption, on which they may defecate and vomit and deposit disease organisms.
Thus, as well as causing a considerable nuisance by their presence (often in large numbers), cockroaches may act as mechanical carriers of disease.
Features of Cockroaches include:
The fact that they have inhabited the earth for more than 250 million years.
It is estimated that a cockroach infested home contains more than 20,000 roaches.
They can live up to 20 days without food and 14 days without water.
Cockroaches can flatten their bodies and crawl through a crack thinner than a five pence piece.
They will eat anything–food, leather, hair, and the glue in book bindings.
Cockroaches can live off the toothpaste residue in your toothbrush.
They can survive radiation up to 12 times greater than humans.
It has been found that they have been implicated in the spread of tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid….and recently asthma.
They are startled by the smallest of air movements and can run for cover in less than .05 seconds.
Cockroaches are cannibals and take a particular liking to each others excrement.
In extreme cases Cockroaches will feed off people.
HTW has noted that amongst the submissions to the Committee on Toxicity (COT) it has been suggested that the symptoms highlighted by crew and passengers were akin to the condition of hyperventilation.
HTW has for many years received reports from concerned holiday makers or independent travellers as to the safety of their aircraft, ship or boat, train or road transport.
