30 Days. 30 Bugs. Teaching kids all the YIKES about the German Cockroach…
During June, I will be offering some pretty interesting bugs to you and your kids… bugs that will excite and entertain kids while teaching them. Each and every little word or fun piece of information is a building block to love of learning and literacy.
Come along for the YIKES! It’s gonna be a buggah!
The noun Genus BLATTELLA refers to small cockroaches. The Blattella Germanica is a German Cockroach.
The German Cockroach is not found exclusively in Germany. No. This little buggah is found all around the world, particularly in locations with human beings, human dwellings and activity. In fact, the German Cockroach is a very common household cockroach, and it also finds food processing facilities premier real estate. YIKES!
The German Cockroach does not thrive in colder climates and temperatures, though. Interestingly enough, the German Cockroach does thrive in northern climates if home heating is involved. Ah, ha… a comfort seeker. In short – food, water and warm temperatures help the German Cockroach survive.
The German cockroach is on the small side, measuring in the half-inch range, but some do grow larger. This Cockroach is brown in color, but may range from light brown to almost black. It has wings, but is unable to fly. The male German Cockroach is thin, slender and tapered. The female is stout with a rounded abdomen. Go figure.
The German Cockroach isn’t a particularly social insect, but a good hiding place will find many of them sharing that space. The daytime is quiet time for them, leaving the evening hours for their activity of foraging for food.
Another YIKES! part of a German Cockroach infestation, with its saliva, feces and cast skins, is its great source of allergens, as these can contaminate food and eating utensils. DOUBLE YIKES!
Eliminating a German Cockroach infestation is all about sanitizing and de-cluttering, and often relying on expert help.
Share the German Cockroach with your kids (as a pest, not pet!); perhaps research its life history and stages of development from egg to nymph to adult. Why not research existing fossil evidence that indicates cockroaches have been on earth for 300 – 400 million years. TRIPLE YIKES! Talk about the great adaptability of the cockroach and why they are considered such a successful group.
Just because the German Cockroach is a pest, doesn’t mean it’s not interesting… especially to kids. Have fun!
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Join me here each day in June for 30 days. 30 Bugs. – a little fun, a little learning and a lotta YIKES!
GROSS! I went to park my car in Philly one night after a long night at work. I parallel parked and looked over because I swear, the wall was moving (I was tired, but not delirious)… it was a wall of cockroaches!!!!! I gave up my parking spot, on a Friday night, for one a mile away from my apartment.
However… your information is awesome! I didn’t know the body types were that different (I’ve never had one in my living space, but I’ve been in quite a few college apartments with the lovelies). It’s always good to learn, even when you’re grossed out!!
Oh, gross! While researching this little buggah, I saw photos of this phenomenon and it made me cringe. That is a YIKES beyond imagination!
I grew up in Texas with roaches the size of well…Texas. 🙂 They are GRODY! I would squish them with my bare hands some times. Bllllleeeeekkkk! I am grossed out yet intrigued by your post. Learn something new every day, right? Thanks for sharing!