Clay Martin, age 8, of Champaign, I11., for his question:

ARE THERE SEVERAL RINDS OF COCKROACHES?

There are more than 1,500 different kinds of cockroaches. About 53 species can be found living in the United States and Canada.

The most common cockroach is the yellow or brown Croton bug. It is a bit over an inch long and is actually related to both the grasshopper and the cricket.

Cockroaches infest ships, ware houses homes, cafes and stores.

They feed on. garbage often and are known to spread disease organisms. They thrive in warm, damp places and can be found under floors, behind baseboards and around sinks and water pipes.

The insect is flat and can slip easily into narrow cracks. It has jaws that bite and work sideways instead of up and down.