Cockroaches and the End of the World

So last night, I spent about an hour thinking about cockroaches. The cucaracha, cafard, or Kakerlak. Have you ever wondered why people are afraid of them? I mean, they don't bite, they don't sting, they're not that little, they just move really fast. I'm beginning to think that they're alot smarter than people give them credit for. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a language. Like have you ever wondered how the whole "don't step on a cockroach cause you'll spread it's eggs" teaching came about? Do you remember hearing about this on the news? Or seeing it for yourself? Who told you about this in the first place? I'd be willing to bet that cockroaches started the rumor themselves. The conversation went like this: (insert mexican accent cause it's just funnier that way)
"Eh man, don't you think we should find a way to keep our little hombres from getting squashed?"
" Man, I will crawl up in a chiquita's ear tonight and whisper that if you step on us, we spread eggs."
"That is such a good idea. Now let's go visit the trash outside taco bell."

The aussie cockroaches sounded much like this but they called each other mate and the plan took about four years longer to complete.

I mean they are so well evolved that it's been rumored that they can survive nuclear holocaust. As to whether or not I believe this, the verdict's still out, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Here're some cockroach facts:
The world's largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan.
Roaches By the Numbers
6 -- Number of legs on a cockroach
18 -- Number of knees on most cockroaches
40-- Number of minutes cockroaches can hold their breath
75 -- Percentage of time that cockroaches spend just resting
5,000 -- Number of species of cockroaches worldwide 280 million+ -- Years ago that cockroaches are thought to have originated (during the Carboniferous period, about 350 million years ago. These ancient cockroaches were able to fly and were probably the first flying animals.)

A cockroach can live a week without its head. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can't drink water and dies of thirst.

Cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour.

Young cockroaches need only a crack as thin as a dime (about .5mm wide) to crawl into. Adult males can squeeze into a space of 1.6mm or the thickness of a quarter. Pregnant females need the most space to hide: 4.5mm or a space as tall as two stacked nickels.

A cockroach heart is nothing but a simple tube with valves. The tube can pump blood backwards and forwards in the insect. The heart can even stop moving without harming the roach.

Roaches can live without food for a month, but will only survive a week without water.

Most species of roaches live in the tropics. But roaches live all over the world, including the North and South Poles. Pest cockroachs can withstand temperatures as cold as 32°F (0°C), but will die if the temperature goes much below that. In extremely cold places, however, they survive by moving in with humans.

Cockroaches can climb walls because they are equipped with a set of little claws on their feet designed for that very purpose.

Crushed cockroaches can be applied to a stinging wound to help relieve the pain.

Roaches use their feelers, or antennae, as noses. Their sense of smell is so great, they recognize family and friends by their distinctive odors.

Male cockroaches transfer sperm to females in a "gift-wrapped" package called a spermatophore. Some males cover the package in a protein-rich wrapping that the female can eat to obtain nutrients to raise her young.

Oh, and one more fact... If you see a styrofoam cup with a name on it moving around campus, don't pick it up. I've drunkenly captured a cockroach and named it. Afterall, you're not supposed to step on them, it'll spread the eggs... man.