What would happen if cockroaches went extinct?
Many studies indicate the cockroach is the most hated insect in the country. As disgusting as they may seem to many, they serve a purpose in the ecosystem.
Cockroaches are some of the most hated insects in the world, causing many people to run out of a room upon seeing them. Whether out of fear or disgust, some wish that these bugs did not exist. However, their disappearance would bring about a series of serious consequences.
There are between 5,000 and 10,000 different species of cockroaches, making them one of the most numerous bugs in the world. If these ceased to exist, the food chain would be negatively affected. Many animals would experience their populations being reduced, and consequently, it would end up affecting humans.
Although no species feeds solely on these insects, their extinction would deplete many animal populations. According to cockroach expert Srini Kambhampati as reported by Live Science, the animals that would be affected would be some birds and small mammals such as mice and rats. Furthermore, the parasitic wasp could disappear, since it needs to introduce itself into the eggs of cockroaches in order to reproduce.
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A significant domino effect
With the disappearance of cockroaches, mice would see their population diminish, which would lead to a considerable reduction in the number of other species that depend on this animal in terms of food. These include cats, coyotes, wolves, reptiles, and birds of prey.
Small rodents also feed on fruits, and this is important because by eating fruits they help disperse seeds on the ground. Rodents also eat other insects that are considered pets. Therefore, if cockroaches did not exist there would be fewer rodents and consequently, worse seed dispersal and a greater number of pests.
Nitrogen cycle helpers
Cockroaches feed on decomposing organic matter. This contains large amounts of nitrogen which, when consumed by these insects, passes through their digestive tract becoming feces that return to the earth. This facilitates the release of nitrogenous products that later become nutrients for plants.
In this way, they help maintain the health of forests, grasslands and other green ecosystems. If these bugs did not exist, the nitrogen cycle would be seriously affected, which would end up having negative consequences for humans in the long term. It could even have devastating consequences in relation to climate change.
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The cockroaches will remain
Fortunately, and unfortunately for many, cockroaches are some of the insects with the highest survival rate in the world. While climate change and other factors are ending the lives of many species, these animals have a great capacity for adaptation that has allowed them to live at least 300 million years on the planet.
Despite having a multitude of predators and having earned the hatred of a large part of the human population, the cockroach has established itself as a tough insect to crack. They are so resistant that taking down just one sometimes seems like an impossible mission. We hate them, but as much as it hurts to admit it, we need them.
Cockroaches have an essential role in the food chain, and represent an important part in the growth process of trees and plants. So its disappearance could lead to devastating consequences on the planet’s ecosystem, and possibly aggravate the current dangers of climate change.