How hardy is the Cockroach?

There are about 30 Cockroach species across the world, from nine different families. All of them are said to be very hardy, which means that they can survive many challenges in their environment. 

For example, the Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae) is a common insect in the Blattidae family of roaches.

The Cockroach is hardy because it can live for about 30 days without food, and 12 hours in freezing weather. It can live without air for up to 45 minutes. 

If its head is chopped off, it can live for weeks without a head. The severed head can even survive for several hours.

It has a brown waxy exo-skeleton, like a shield, which protects its body. Scientists say that it can survive 6 to 15 times more radiation in a nuclear attack than a human.

Neverthless, the Cockroach lives on average for up to 5 years. 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM