cover of episode What's cool about cockroaches?

What's cool about cockroaches?

2024/5/3
logo of podcast But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
J
Jessica Ware
Topics
人们对蟑螂的负面印象主要来自一小部分对人类有害的蟑螂物种,而事实上,绝大多数蟑螂物种对人类无害,甚至对环境有益。例如,许多蟑螂物种是重要的分解者,它们分解落叶和土壤中的有机物,有助于土壤通气,如果没有它们,倒下的树木将无法腐烂分解。白蚁作为一种社会性蟑螂,其社会结构复杂,成员之间分工合作,共同维护群体生存。蟑螂还拥有许多令人惊奇的特性,例如清洁能力、产奶能力和拟态能力。

Deep Dive

Chapters

Shownotes Transcript

That’s a question a lot of people have, honestly. But a kid named Rosie was bold enough to ask us to investigate why. So, in the latest episode, we dig in on why cockroaches get such a bad rap and why you might want to reconsider if you’re not a fan.

Only two percent of the world’s cockroaches are considered pests. Those are the ones that can live in houses and potentially make us sick. But the vast majority of cockroaches don’t bother humans at all! Some, like the social cockroach species known as termites, work to decompose organic material and are hugely important to our environment. So where do people learn negative attitudes toward insects? We dig deep into insects with Jessica Ware, an entomologist and curator at the American Museum of Natural History). She’s also the host of the PBS digital series) Insectarium). Answers to your questions about cockroaches, termites, dragonflies, praying mantises and more!

Download our learning guides: PDF) | Google Slide) | Transcript)