Millions of people around the world are suffering from cockroach infestations and problems. There is a good reason for the difficulty in control because cockroaches are gradually forming mutations that make them better adapted.
One database shows that cockroaches, particularly certain populations of German cockroaches, have developed resistance to pesticides, essentially rendering the chemicals useless against them. In a residential area of southern California, research results show that this species can survive exposure to 5 pesticides.
That’s worrisome because severe cockroach infestations can cause health problems, such as asthma, said study leader Chow-Yang Lee, a professor of urban entomology at the University of California. asthma or allergies.
Cockroaches infiltrate homes.
At least 11 different allergens have been linked to German cockroaches, which can also be spread like Salmonella. In short, cockroaches can affect a person’s physical and mental health.
True to their fearsome reputation, of the more than 4,500 known cockroach species, only the German cockroach is known to be resistant to pesticides.
Using vacuum cleaners and traps, Lee and his colleagues collected hundreds of cockroaches from public properties around Los Angeles, San Diego, Vista, and San Jose. Since people in these areas often cannot afford professional extermination services, they tend to use more and more store-bought pesticides.
This creates a vicious loop. The more people sprayed with drugs, the more the cockroaches had the conditions to adapt and enhance their survival. This has been proven after the experiments of Professor Lee’s group.
The German cockroach was used in Professor Lee’s experiment.
Glass cockroaches that have never “rolled around forever” will die very quickly when exposed to pesticides.
Meanwhile, cockroaches caught outside were also brought back to the lab and exposed to six commonly used pesticides. Most of these cockroaches survived and recovered to normal in more than two weeks.
Only one out of six insecticides called abamectin showed immediate effect. However, after about a year, the cockroaches gradually transformed their bodies. As a result, their offspring are more resistant to abamectin than the previous generation.
As such, more exposure to pesticides will create a greater chance of survival for the cockroaches. They adapt, mutate and reproduce, creating future generations of cockroaches with resistance to the drug. Professor Lee calls this a never-ending loop.
Besides, humans can also be affected by the use of pesticides in the home. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, pesticide residue in the home can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea as well as increase the risk of cancer.
Professor Lee gives advice on living with cockroaches.
Therefore, Professor Lee advises not to abuse pesticides. Instead, keep your home clean and dry. Cockroaches are especially attracted to pet food, so it’s important to store these foods in an airtight container when not in use.
Professor Lee also suggested learning more about wild cockroaches, many of which play a beneficial role in the environment. They can act as organisms that help decompose leaves on the rainforest floor. Some even help pollinate flowers.
What’s more, some cockroaches can actually help humans. Due to living in filthy places, cockroaches’ bodies contain molecules that can destroy even the toughest bacteria. Studying how this process works could help scientists figure out how to combat antibiotic resistance in humans – a big concern of modern science.
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