When you look at a cockroach you feel an inexplicable disgust and repulsion, and if the insect is near you, you’ll likely kill it. You wish cockroaches did not exist, that they would disappear from the planet and stop invading your home and, although it is true, their appearance does not help them much, you should know that their disappearance can harm the entire planet. Although they are the most undesirable insects, here we explain why it is time for you to start making peace with these companions, they are more influential in the life of the Earth than you think.
Cockroaches are one of the most numerous insects, both in species and quantity; it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 10,000 species, and they are found everywhere such as cities, places with high waste production, tropical forests, desert areas, swamps, coastal areas, etc. Believe it or not, few species interact with humans frequently and some are more prevalent than others depending on the country. The most common is the Periplaneta americana or house cockroach.
What Happens If Cockroaches Disappear?
Like most insects, cockroaches are a source of food for creatures such as birds, insectivorous mammals, amphibians, other insects, etc., including humans. No animal indeed bases its diet solely on cockroaches; however, if cockroaches become extinct, the creatures would be less likely to survive and, therefore, their populations would decrease significantly; other pest insects could multiply and, thus, alter the ecological balance of ecosystems.
For example, populations of mice and rats would be among the first to decline, as their diet is composed of cockroaches, and if rodents were to be deprived of this food and their wild populations reduced, there would be enormous damage to animal populations such as eagles and other birds of prey, felines, coyotes, wolves, and many of the reptiles.
They also make an invaluable contribution to the nitrogen cycle, an important foundation for the functioning of the planet, because cockroaches feed on decaying organic matter. The resulting material retains large amounts of nitrogen in its structure and, when consumed by millions of cockroaches, it passes through the insect’s digestive tract and turns into feces which, when they fall to the ground, more easily release nitrogenous products that are then used by plants, thus ensuring the health of forests, grasslands and the rest of the ecosystems, including their inhabitants.
So if you belong to the group of people who hate cockroaches, it’s time to think once again about your decision. These insects are much more important to the planet than you think, and without them, we would be in big and serious trouble.
This story was written by Kate Nateras in Cultura Colectiva
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