A bug for the ages

By Aaron Horrell

The cockroach is one of the least loved and most widespread of all insects.

There are thousands of subspecies of cockroaches worldwide.

In 2014 a new species of cockroach was found in China that thrives mainly by eating wood.

This is not surprising, since cockroaches are known to eat almost anything that is animal or plant based.

It has been said if a human will eat it, a cockroach will eat it.

That may not be 100 percent true, but certainly a cockroach would gladly share your hamburger, your apple pie and your beer if given the chance.

The origin of the cockroach dates back to the earliest of prehistoric times.

Today there are cockroaches living nearly everywhere humans live. Cockroaches like the warmth of our homes.

I found the cockroach shown here on Feb. 6 while splitting a piece of firewood newly cut from a dead red oak tree.

An old crack in the wood provided a safe harbor for several cockroaches.

I now know cockroaches can survive through the winter in the Southeast Missouri outdoors.