When the rock now known as theChicxulub impactor slammed into the Earth 66 million years ago, it was inhabited by roaches. Scientists think the impact triggered volcanic eruptions thousands of miles from the impact site. All dinosaurs, except for some species that were ancestors of today's birds, died.
When so many powerful animals went extinct, how could roaches survive? They were well-equipped to survive a catastrophe.
If you've ever seen a bug, you'll know that their bodies are very flat. This isn't an accident. Flatter insects can squeeze themselves tighter. It may have helped them survive the impact.
There is a reason that roaches can survive just about anything.
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The temperatures on Earth's surface went up when the meteorite hit. roaches were able to take shelter in soil crevices which provided excellent protection from heat.
The cascade of effects was caused by the impact of the meteorite. The sky was dark because it kicked up so much dust. As the sun went down, temperatures plummeted and the weather became cold. Many organisms that relied on plants for food went hungry because of the lack of sunlight.
That's not a roaches, though. Unlike some insects that prefer to eat a single plant, the roaches are scavengers. They will eat most of the things that come from animals and plants, as well as cardboard, clothing and even poop. Since the extinction of the Chicxulub, having appetites that aren't picky has allowed roaches to survive.
The trait that is helpful is that roaches lay their eggs in protective cases. Egg cartons look like dried beans and are called oothecae, which means "egg cases." Like phone cases, oothecae are hard and protect their contents from physical damage and other threats. The oothecae may have been the reason why some roaches waited out part of the catastrophe.
Modern roaches can live anywhere on land, from the heat of the tropics to some of the most frigid parts of the world. There are over 4,000 species of roaches.
A few of these species like to live with humans. It is hard to get rid of the roaches in a building. Large numbers of roaches can spread diseases. They pose the greatest threat to human health from the allergens they produce that can cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions in some people.
Because they have the same abilities that helped their ancestors outlive dinosaurs, cockroach pests are hard to manage. The roaches are more than a pest. Researchers study roaches to understand how they move and how their bodies are designed.
All insects are beautiful, six-legged inspiration. The cockroaches have overcome the odds. I would be more worried for humans than for roaches if another meteorite hit the Earth.
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