If cockroaches we see living in our kitchens, bathrooms, and the sewers are such hardy creatures, why don’t we see large populations of them in gardens and woods where there’s plenty of moisture and food?

Question

If cockroaches we see living in our kitchens, bathrooms, and the sewers are such hardy creatures, why don’t we see large populations of them in gardens and woods where there’s plenty of moisture and food?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Their reputation for hardiness is greatly exaggerated. Yes, they are more resistant to radiation than humans, but not insanely so, and game over, they’ll die at under 45°. We could bundle up and turn off our heaters for two days in a mild winter and none would be left in the US outside of the Gulf Coast, Florida, and Southern California.