Giant Peppered Cockroach

It is one of the largest cockroaches in existence, measuring up to 64 mm. It is found in Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala. There are 4,000 different species of cockroaches and only 30 of these live in cities. Cockroaches are one of the strongest creaturesever encountered. They can live without a head, can survive underwater for half an hour, can stop breathing for 40 minutes and can go for weeks without eating because they are inhabited by a bacteria that generates vitamins and amino acids to keep them nourished.

Despite their bad reputation, they perform ecological functions that are necessary for the proper development of ecosystems. Some species feed on excrement or decaying plant or animal matter, which contributes to the elimination of these from forests and increases the level of nutrients in the soil. Other cockroach species participate in pollination processes. In addition, cockroaches have a key role in the food chain as prey for numerous species and, as predators, they consume bugs and even the eggs of some agricultural pests.

Last but not least, cockroaches have a valuable role in the biogeochemical cycles of certain chemical elements, such as nitrogen. Some species have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their intestines, allowing them to be able to take in atmospheric nitrogen and return it to the soil through their feces. Nitrogen is a basic element for plant growth, so the presence of these insects in ecosystems is crucial for incorporating this nutrient into the soil, thus contributing to maintaining the ecosystem. Hence, when faced with cockroach infestations, experts warn of the irreparable damage to biological communities if one cockroach species were to be completely wiped out. Upstream and downstream links would be severely affected, triggering unpredictable environmental consequences.