TOUGH INSECTS

Dear HIW,

Cockroaches are said to be tough, but can they survive being sucked into a vacuum cleaner which is left running for a few minutes? How about other creatures like spiders?

Stephen

We don’t recommend trying this out, but there is research that suggests that some cockroaches can survive being sucked into a vacuum cleaner and can remain alive without air for around 40 minutes. Most cockroaches and other insects won’t survive this ordeal, and those that get completely stuck are likely to die as dust blocks their airways.

Cockroaches can withstand pressures 900 times their own body weight