Cockroaches Like Cleanliness?

During these cockroaches considered a dirty animal carriers of germs. However, this assumption is not entirely true. Recent research suggests cockroaches apparently enjoyed doing activities to get cleaned up.

Cockroaches incessantly bathe their antennae in order to keep their sense of smell in top shape, new research finds. (PIcture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Antennae of cockroaches clean the dirt particles by licking the body as that of a cat. Normally, cockroaches use their front legs to push the antenna in the direction of the mouth. The antenna then licked systematically from top to bottom.

Activities for self-cleaning is done regularly by cockroaches, not only to maintain appearances. "But it also keeps the smell to find food and a mate, as well as detecting danger," said Coby Schal, an insect expert from North Carolina State University, as reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 5, 2013.

Maintain cleanliness of the antenna becomes vital for roaches. Animals that rely on a pair of antennae on the head to detect the condition of the surrounding environment. Schal says, cleaned up the sort of commonplace activities conducted mammals and insects. But habit is somewhat strange for roaches, living in dirty places. "When taking a shower, clean the antennae of cockroaches heap of dirt that cover the pores," said Schal.

Groomed antennae had open pores that could shuttle sensory chemicals to smell sensing centers inside the antennae. (PIcture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Maintaining open pore antenna makes cockroaches able to continue to recognize the scent. Schal said the findings could be used to design a powerful insecticide, which can stick long in the outer cuticle layer of wax on the body of cockroaches. Cockroach antennae licking behavior will lead to a toxic insecticide in his body. "Insecticides are attached to the antenna will automatically be ingested by cockroaches," he said. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4135]

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