It’s comparable to the way chickens will flap their wings to reach a low-sitting perch. With a little flutter, they can lift themselves up with a greater range. Just shy of flying, roaches can use their wings to improve their jump height. Once back on their feet, they’re not in danger of starving or being exposed to predators. By fluttering or extending them, roaches can rock themselves side to side or flip themselves over. However, for everyday accidents that place a roach on its back, wings can help.
If sprayed with insecticide to a point where their muscle control is damaged, that’s still true. Use breezes or wind pressure to adjust their balanceįor some species of roaches, getting stuck on their back is a death sentence.Part of what keeps roaches steady on any terrain is their wings. In fact, scientists use this pest as a reference when designing robots for that reason.
A cockroach has the most impressive balance of any creature.
