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Cockroaches are famous for being among the hardiest of insects. There are over 4,500 species of cockroaches, some of which can go for over a month without food or survive on limited resources like the glue on the back of a postage stamp. Urban legend has it that cockroaches would inherit the earth in the event of a nuclear war. They do indeed have a much higher radiation resistance than vertebrates, but there are also many other insects whose resistance is still higher, like fruit flies. Cockroaches have broad, flat bodies, small heads, and few special adaptations; they are among the most primitive of living neopteran insects. While come species of cockroach are considered pests, like this American cockroach, the various species of cockroach are incredibly diverse and many play an important role in their ecosystem, like the giant Australian burrowing cockroach, which can be up to 9 cm long. This specimen is set in transparent lucite resin, making it a great decorative piece or educational display.
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