10 Fascinating Facts About Cockroaches

Nobody wants to see a cockroach scurrying under the fridge when flipping on the light switch. These creatures arent exactly revered. Entomologists know otherwise, though; these insects are actually rather cool. Here are 10 fascinating facts about cockroaches that just might persuade you to think differently about them. 1. Most Species Are Not Pests What image do you conjure up when you hear the word cockroach? For most people, its a dark, dirty city apartment teeming with cockroaches. In truth, very few cockroach species inhabit human dwellings. We know of some 4,000 species of cockroaches on the planet, most of which inhabit forests, caves, burrows, or brush.  Only about 30 species like to live where people do. In the U.S., the two most common species are the German cockroach, known as  Blattella germanica, and the American cockroach,  Periplaneta americana. 2. Cockroaches Are Scavengers Most roaches prefer sugar and other sweets, but they will eat just about anything: glue, grease, soap, wallpaper paste, leather, bookbindings, even hair. And cockroaches can survive a remarkably long time without food. Some species can go as long as six weeks without a meal. In nature, cockroaches provide an important service by consuming organic waste. As with houseflies, when cockroaches take up residence among humans, they can become vehicles for spreading diseases as they scuttle about the home. Feeding on waste, trash, and food, they leave germs and droppings in their wake. 3. Theyve Been Around For a Long Time If you could travel back to the Jurassic period and walk among the dinosaurs, you would easily recognize the cockroaches crawling under logs and stones in prehistoric forests. The modern cockroach first came to be about 200 million years ago. Primitive roaches appeared even earlier, about 350 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. The fossil record shows that Paleozoic roaches had an external ovipositor, a trait that disappeared during the Mesozoic era. 4. Cockroaches Like to Be Touched Roaches are thigmotropic, meaning they like feeling something solid in contact with their bodies, preferably on all sides. They seek out cracks and crevices, squeezing into spaces that offer them the comfort of a tight fit. The small German cockroach can fit into a crack as thin as a dime, while the larger American cockroach will squeeze into a space no thicker than a quarter. Even a pregnant female can manage a crevice as thin as two stacked nickels. Cockroaches are also social creatures, preferring to live in multigenerational nests that can range from a few bugs to several dozen. In fact, according to research, cockroaches that dont share the company of others can become ill or unable to mate. 5. They Lay Eggs, Lots of Them Mama cockroach protects her eggs by enveloping them in a thick protective case, called an ootheca. German cockroaches may encase as many as 40 eggs in one ootheca, while the larger American roaches average about 14 eggs per capsule. A female cockroach can produce multiple egg cases over her lifetime. In some species, the mother will carry the ootheca with her until the eggs are ready to hatch. In others, the female will drop the ootheca or attach it to a substrate. 6. Roaches Love Bacteria For millions of years, cockroaches have carried on a symbiotic relationship with special bacteria called Bacteroides. These bacteria live within special cells called mycetocytes and are passed down to new generations of cockroaches by their mothers. In exchange for living a life of relative comfort inside the cockroachs fatty tissue, the Bacteroides manufacture all the vitamins and amino acids the cockroach needs to live. 7. Cockroaches Dont Need Heads to Survive Lop the head off a roach, and a week or two later it will still respond to stimuli by wiggling its legs. Why? Surprisingly, its head isnt all that important to how a cockroach functions. Cockroaches have open circulatory systems, so as long as the wound clots normally, they arent prone to bleeding out. Their respiration occurs via spiracles along the sides of the body. Eventually, the headless cockroach will either dehydrate or succumb to mold. 8. Theyre Fast Cockroaches detect approaching threats by sensing changes in air currents. The fastest start time clocked by a cockroach was just 8.2 milliseconds after it sensed a puff of air on its rear end. Once all six legs are in motion, a cockroach can sprint at speeds of 80 centimeters per second, or about 1.7 miles per hour. And theyre elusive, too, with the ability to turn on a dime while in full stride. 9. Tropical Roaches Are Big Most domestic roaches dont come close to the size of their giant, tropical cousins. Megaloblatta longipennis boasts a wingspan of 7 inches. The Australian rhinoceros cockroach,  Macropanesthia rhinoceros,  measures about 3 inches and can weigh 1 ounce or more. The giant cave cricket, Blaberus giganteus, is even larger, reaching 4 inches at maturity.   10. Cockroaches Can Be Trained Makoto Mizunami and Hidehiro Watanabe, two scientists at Japans Tohoku University, found cockroaches could be conditioned much like dogs. They introduced the scent of vanilla or peppermint just before giving the roaches a sugary treat. Eventually, the cockroaches would drool when their antennae detected one of these scents in the air. More Crazy Cockroach Facts Its often been said that cockroaches are so hardy that they can survive a nuclear explosion. Although the bugs can survive levels of radiation that would kill a human being within minutes, higher levels of exposure can be deadly. In one experiment, cockroaches were exposed to 10,000 rads of radiation, about the same amount as the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan during World War II. Only about 10 percent of the test subjects survived. These hardly bugs can also hold their breath for 4 to 7 minutes at a time. Scientists arent sure why cockroaches do this, but researchers in Australia say it may be in order to preserve moisture in dry climates. They can also survive for several minutes under water, though exposure to hot water can kill them. Sources: BBC editors. Cockroaches. BBC.co.uk. October 2014.Sampaolo, Marco, et al. Cockroaches. Brittanica.com. 14 September 2014.Walker, Matt. Why Cockroaches Need Their Friends. BBC.co.uk. 2 May 2012.Willis, Bill. Separating Fact from Fiction: Cockroach Myths and Misconceptions. National Institutes of Health. 1 February 2017.

Theme Of The Iliad - 1318 Words

Themes found in the Iliad The Iliad is one of the greatest and earliest works of Greek literature beautifully written by Homer. The poem was set at the last year of the Trojan War prior the fall of Troy, that was indeed ten years long. Moreover, the focus of this poem is a conflict that rose among Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and commander-in-chief of the allied Greeks, and Achilles, the greatest warrior, rather than the events and battles that occurred in the Trojan War between the Greeks and Trojans. Throughout the Iliad, the conflict rose due to numerous issues regarding pride, honor and power. This epic poem was written in a distinguished manner that made it easier for the readers to identify the important themes of the poem. For†¦show more content†¦Achilles went through a second stage of rage towards the end of the epic poem in Book eighteen when the death of his closest friend, Patroclus, happens. When Achilles says, â€Å"Then let me die now. I was no help to him when he was killed out there. He died far from home, and he needed me to protect him. But now, since I’m not going home...I stand alone in the whole Greek army when it comes to war; though some do speak better† (Norton 286) at this point in the poem, Achilles is now enraged at Hector for destroying his closest friendship. Also, at this second stage I believe Achilles is most likely mad at himself as well, because he feels guilty that he was not there for Patroclus when he needed to be, to protect him from Hector and all danger. In revenge, Achilles slayed and killed Hector and drags him around the walls of Troy, creating sorrow and terror in Priam. Throughout the Iliad one sees many strong ties of love and friendship among the characters. Parental love is one of them and it is an important force. The love of a mother like Thetis towards her son, Achilles, that in fact causes her to ask Zeus for the huge favor of glorifying Achilles because she knows that his life is coming to an end shortly. Thetis love forAchilles is so strong since Achilles’ birth, that she tried to make him immortal by dipping him in theShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Glory In The Iliad774 Words   |  4 Pages1 The idea of kleos otherwise known as glory in Greek, and honor is one of the most essential motifs of the Iliad. For many warriors depicted in the Iliad, honor was vital and personal. For many, Glory earned in battle was more important than one’s life. Glory or the lack of, was remembered long after one’s life. Possibly the greatest fundamental part of honor to the fighters of the Iliad was courage in battle as shown throughout multiple books. Throughout the course of this book we can see howRead More Honor as the Theme in Homer’s The Iliad Essay2033 Words   |  9 Pagesthe most universal and meaningful of themes. The theme of any literary work is what makes it great as it should be able to encompass the immense diversity of the world and as it would be able to transcend the boundaries of religion, age, race, gender, etc. Two examples of this great and classic literature are the epics of Homer which are quite well known around the world even if, ironically, t hey were never written and were first composed in Ancient Greek—The Iliad and Odyssey. Both epics are famousRead MoreThe Theme of Family in Books 6 and 24 in Homer’s Iliad.1017 Words   |  5 PagesTerm Paper 1 CORC 1110 Classical Cultures The theme of family in books 6 and 24 in Homer’s Iliad. Family is very important in Books 6 and 24, but it is also one of the main themes throughout the Iliad. Book 1 begins with the vengeance taken by a father who has lost his daughter. The leaders of the Greeks are brothers, and Achilles’s revenge against Hektor is caused by the loss of the brotherly love of Patroklos. And even amongst the gods, the allegiances to the Greeks or the Trojans isRead MoreTying Homers Iliad to Virgils Aeneid Through the Theme of Warfare1487 Words   |  6 PagesHomers Iliad to Virgils Aeneid. However, the way warfare is treated in the two epics is different. This can be attributed to many factors including the time between the composition of the pieces, the fact that pieces were written by different authors, and the fact that the pieces were written in different places. We can use these pieces to get a view of what the society that produced them thought about war and how the view of war changed as time went on in the ancient world. The Iliad is a poemRead More Iliad Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iliad and The Odyssey are two epic poems with both similar and different styles to the structure of the poems, as well as each poem having the same gods incorporated into the stories intervening with the day to day lives of the mortals. Greek poetry before Homer was all composed orally; therefore it is assumed that Homer’s works are the first written works of art (Joachim Latacz, page 15). Scholars who have spent extensive time researching the origin of Homer’s work cannot verify a specificRead MoreIliad - Self image1193 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Iliad Essay Prompt 1. Complete one take home essay. Provide textual evidence, specific lines and incidents from The Iliad that proves your thesis. You may also draw from The Odyssey. Use in text parenthetical documentation according to MLA standards. The style guide that many colleges use is DianaHacker.com. We will use this style guide for both MLA format and grammar and mechanics. If you have any questions about MLA format, refer to DianaHacker.com. This paper needs to read asRead MoreAt the time of Homer, it was normal for gods to meddle in human affairs, and he shows this in The1300 Words   |  6 Pagesthe time of Homer, it was normal for gods to meddle in human affairs, and he shows this in The Iliad. A vast majority of the Greek gods play some role in how the Trojan wars turns out, which is what the poem is all about. Homer uses the gods to deviate from how normal wars are played out. The head god, Zeus, will be the focus as I go through what he did and how it affected the War as well as The Iliad. Zeus tried to stay out of the Trojan War for egotistic motives and was viewed as a father figureRead MoreHeroism Depicted Throughout The Epic Poem, The Iliad And The Knights Tale866 Words   |  4 Pagesis depicted within a literary work is in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. Although the ideals of heroism are apparent in the poem, it is important to understand how the same theme can be seen through other works of literatur e. The Knights Tale, which is one of the greatest stories that Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales has to offer. The Iliad and The Knights Tale are both stories that contain the ideals of heroism. In the epic poem, The Iliad, Homer was brilliant in showing the idea of traditional heroismRead MoreComparing Book 9 And Book 24 Of Homer s Iliad951 Words   |  4 Pagesbook 9 and book 24 of Homer’s Iliad, which touch upon similar issues, themes and characters, but often with a different intention and result. In particular, both books begin with a time of sorrow and feature examples of supplication and reconciliation, but in book 24 the mood gradually changes, while book 9 ends very much on the same note as it begun. Naturally, as the very first line of the Iliad states â€Å" Sing, goddess, the anger of the Peleus’ son Achilleus† (Iliad 1.1), the issue of Achilleus’sRead MoreThe Era Of Homer By Homer911 Words   |  4 PagesHomeric epic. He was the first author to write epics and his writing style held strongly as the first major literature of its type in western civilization. Homer is considered a groundbreaking author of his time period because of his reoccurring themes and characteristics, his creation of the epic poem, and his significance to literature. The Homeric epic was a groundbreaking literary style for its time. Because Homer lived so long ago, we are not sure if it truly was the first of its kind, but

Chapter 22 Exile in Dapitan - 1546 Words

CHAPTER 22 EXILE IN DAPITAN(1892-1895) Rizal lived in dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of Jesuits from 1893 to 1896. He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary works, widened his knowledge of languages, and established a school for boys, promoted etc. BEGINNING OF EXILE IN DAPITAN Rizal did not agree with the conditions given by Father Superior Pastells to Father Obach. He lived in the house of the commandant, Captain Carnicero. Rizal admired Carnicero and wrote a poem, A Don Ricardo Carnicero on August 26, 1892. WINS IN MANILA LOTTERY Mail boat Butuan came on September 21, 1892 who brought lottery ticket no. 9736 , jointly owned by Captain†¦show more content†¦Mr. H.F. Cameron was one of those who praised Rizal COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR DAPITAN Rizal spent P500.00 to equip lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps placed in dark streets of Dapitan. Beautification of Dapitan with the help of Father Sanchez was done by remodelling the town plaza. RIZAL AS A TEACHER Rizal planned to establish a modern college in Hong Kong for Filipino boys so that he could train them in modern edagogical concepts. In 1893, he established a school which existed until the end of his exile in July, 1896. It began with 3 pupils then increased to 16 and later to 21. He said that this pupils did not pay any tuition instead he made them work in his garden, fields, and construction projects in the community. He taught his boys reading, writing, languages, geography, historyy, mathematics, industrial work, nature study, morals, and gymnastics. He trained them how to collect speciments of plants and animals, to love work, and to â€Å"behave like men†. HYMN TO TALISAY Rizal had written a poem entitled â€Å"Himno A Talisay† for his pupils to sing. CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE Rizal had contributed in the collection of concology (36 shells representing 203 species). Some of the rare species he discovered were Praco rizali (flying Dragon), Apologia rizali (a small beetle), Rhacophorus rizali (a rare frog). He also conducted anthropological, ethnographical,Show MoreRelatedExile in Dapitan1444 Words   |  6 PagesChapter 22 Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96 Rizal lived in exile in far away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao w/c was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892-1896. This four year interregnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful w/ varied achievements. He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary works widened his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys, promoted community development projectsRead MoreRizal Chapter 22 Summary1957 Words   |  8 PagesChapter 22 Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96 Rizal lived in exile in faraway Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four – year interregnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements. Beginning of Exile in Dapitan Steamer Cebu – brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuits Society in the Philippines, to Father Antonio ObachRead MoreRizal Chapter 22 Summary1967 Words   |  8 PagesChapter 22 Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96 Rizal lived in exile in faraway Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four – year interregnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements. Beginning of Exile in Dapitan Steamer Cebu – brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuits Society in the Philippines, to Father Antonio ObachRead MoreLife of Dr. Jose P. Rizal6588 Words   |  27 Pagesgo to the bierbrauerie, or beerhall, to speak German with my student friends.† He lived in a Karlstraße boarding house then moved to Ludwigsplatz. There, he met Reverend Karl Ullmer and stayed with them in Wilhemsfeld, where he wrote the last few chapters of Noli Me Tangere. A plaque marks the Heidelberg building where he trained with Professor Becker, while in Wilhemsfeld, a smaller version of the Rizal Park with his bronze statue stands and the street where he lived was also renamed after himRead MoreIntroduction to Rizal Course11998 Words   |  48 PagesRizal Y Alonzo Realonda (Pepe / Moy) is the 7th child of Don Kikoy and Dona Lolay. Was married to Josephine Bracken, he had a son by her but this baby boy died a few hours after birth. Rizal named hi â€Å"Franciscoâ€Å"after his father and buried him in Dapitan. 8. Concepcion Mercado Y Alonzo (Concha) born in 1862; she died of sickness at the age of 3 ; her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life. 9. Josefa Mercado Y Alonzo (Panggoy) was an epileptic born in 1865 but with a strong personalityRead MoreThe World During Rizals Time3501 Words   |  15 PagesCHAPTER 1: THE WORLD DURING THE TIME OF RIZAL * Philippines- still a colony of Spain, largest and richest in terms of natural resources and trade potential * 19th century reform movements are  political movements  such as  abolitionism  or  temperance  which played a significant role in the political life of the  nineteenth century. The movements found organizational form in the United States in organizations such as the  American Anti-Slavery Society. SPANISH RULE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY DuringRead MoreChronology of Rizals Travels2143 Words   |  9 Pagestyrants; ⎈ To find out how Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spanish in the Philippines; and ⎈ To inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent. October 1887 Calamba Started writing his second novel – El Filibusterismo. February 8 – 22, 1888 Hong Kong and Macau ⎈ Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for the second time. He was a full – grown man of 27 years of age, a practicing physician, and a recognized man–of–letters. ⎈ During his two-week visit

Planning a Wedding on a Budget free essay sample

Planning a Wedding On a Budget Every woman wants to have the wedding of their dreams. Weddings can be very expensive. An average wedding in Bennington County, Vermont costs between $18,364 and $30,606 for a guest count of 112-126 people, and the majority of woman however do not possess the means to have such a lavish event. But there are other ways to have your dream wedding without spending much money. If you budget and shop around you can have your dream wedding. The idea of a wedding is to carry you into a happy marriage. So how do you throw an experience that you and your guests will remember for years to come, while staying within the confines of a budget? Do the math. In order to stay within your boundaries, you actually have to set a budget. Your first priority may be flowers, but you’re off to the wrong start. If you allocate money to buy them without first determining how much you can spend on the occasion, including engagement ring, honeymoon and everything in between. Once you’ve put a cap on spending, evaluate your priorities. Many couples make the mistake of not creating a buffer of about ten percent of the overall budget in case unexpected expenses occur. Traditionally the brides’ family pays for the wedding ceremony and the reception. The grooms’ family is typically responsible for the rehearsal dinner. In today’s society more and more couples are paying for their own wedding. Others split all costs, designating specific duties to each part of the family. Establish with the families who will pay for what. Find out how much they are willing to spend, to adjust your budget properly. The first thing you should do is make out your guest list. This will be a key factor in several aspects of planning the wedding. One guest could change the overall cost of a wedding by an average of $206. When making out a guest list, keep in mind that only about two-thirds of the invited guest will attend the ceremony or reception even less will attend both. The number of guest you invite will determine the costs involved with the invitations, venue of both the ceremony and reception (some charge extra for additional people over a certain number), the favors, food, and whether or not you will have an open bar. Keep in mind that the amount of guests on your list can be modified at anytime in order to stay within the confines of your budget. After you decide how many guest you are going to invite, it is time to pick a date. You should have a few dates in mind incase the venue you want isn’t available on the exact date you want. If you do not have your heart set on a specific venue, you can choose a specific date and have a few more choices on where you want to be married. The time of year you choose to get married will also impact your budget. Peak season for weddings is during the summer, prices are typically higher this time of year. Most places will give discounts for planning the event during the winter months. The average cost of the venue, catering and rentals is between $5,491 and $9,151. If you are looking for the best of everything the cost could go as high as $14,642. Changing a few things could cut your cost to be as low as $1,500 $2,500. When looking at churches or a Bed and Breakfast for the ceremony, be sure there is adequate seating for the number of guests you are inviting, as well as, sufficient parking and bathrooms that will efficiently accommodate the amount of attending guests. Also find out any rules or stipulations the venue may have. At some churches they require you to take marriage classes; this will allow the priest or minister to determine if you are fit to be married. If you have the ceremony in a church, you will need a separate venue for the reception. This is an extra cost. Most venues will require a down payment of at least 25 percent of their total cost. Planning on having a toast of Champaign at the reception? Check with the venue, to make sure they have a liquor license. To avoid all hassle you can always ask family members or friends that have a large yard to have the wedding at their house. Offer the person, in which you use their land, some money for the amount of electricity you will use. If you are having an outside wedding do you need tables, chairs and tents, someplace to cook the food? Get your tables and chairs from a local firehouse or church, donate $25 to $100 for the use of the furniture. As for a bathroom, rent portable bathrooms which will cost around $100 per unit. Who will cook the food? If you decide to hire a caterer, meet with him/her. Ask yourself questions, does he/she look like someone I would trust enough to eat their food? Are they clean? Ask for a tasting. Reputable caterers will set up a time to cook samples for you. Be sure they will cook the type of food you want. Find out if they have a portfolio of events they have catered. Call their references. Want to save money on the catering? Ask your family to each cook a dish from your menu to have a large buffet style dinner. Pay for the food that everyone will be cooking, which the cost will depend on the amount of guests that RSVP. The rehearsal dinner is meant for the wedding party and parents of the bride and groom, to celebrate the upcoming day. The type of dinner is up to the bride and groom. Choosing something simple such as pizza or a homemade dinner is a great way to save a little money. But some people would rather celebrate in style by going out to a reputable restaurant. Either way you choose, it is a great way to enjoy family, have some laughs, and de-stress before the big day. By now you would have chosen either a church for the ceremony or an outside wedding. With a church wedding you will have chosen that place knowing who the priest or minister is that will be marrying you. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, you have the option to choose a member of the Justice of the Peace, a Judge or Rabbi. All members charge differently. I personally paid $75 to an old friend of my husbands family (who was a member of the Justice of the Peace) to marry us. We were able to be married by someone we knew and trusted. Now that you have decided on when, where and how many guests you are going to invite, its time to pick out your invitations. The invitations you choose is what is going to represent the overall look of your wedding. Online has many options when choosing a theme. The cost can range from $382 to $636, unless you want designer invitations then it can range anywhere from $764 to $1,018.