From where they get their name to why they die on their back, learn something new with these cockroach facts.
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What Is a Group of Cockroaches Called?
A group of cockroaches is called an intrusion. Cockroaches are a social bug that are typically found in groups. They live and interact with each other, with some scientists even suggesting cockroaches have personalities. When an intrusion invades a home or a business, the intrusion is then considered an infestation.
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How Many Legs Do Cockroaches Have?
A cockroach’s body is divided into three parts — the head, the thorax and the abdomen. It’s got three pairs of legs. Surprisingly, cockroaches are quite the fast insect, topping out at more than three mph. Their speed and ability to shape their body help them avoid predators and find safety.
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Do Cockroaches Fly?
While the majority of cockroach species have wings, many are not good flyers and will often use their feet for traveling and escape. When cockroaches do fly, they act more as gliders, opening their wings to glide from a higher surface to a lower one. You rarely see cockroaches flying around freely like flies and bees.
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What Do Cockroaches Do?
Often living in warm, moist and dark environments, cockroaches are a social insect, congregating in groups to survive and thrive. They are omnivores who feast on plants, animals and even their own kind. The goats of the insect world, cockroaches, spend their lives feasting on basically anything they can find, earning their reputation as “opportunistic eaters.” While their ability to carry basically anything within their bodies often brings dangerous diseases and bacteria, it also leads to ecological benefits, such as transporting pollen to increase plant reproduction and adding nitrogen to soils. Socializing, eating, transporting and reproducing are the main functions of a cockroach.
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When Do Cockroaches Come Out?
Cockroaches are nocturnal, coming out at night to hunt and search for food. While cockroaches prefer the darkness, some are attracted to bright lights, making patio and door lighting a common place to find them. Northern outdoor cockroaches will hibernate during the winter and come out with warmer weather in the spring.
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Do Cockroaches Make Noise?
Cockroaches often do not make much noise. If enough of them are together in a small area, you might be able to hear them crawling around or flapping their wings. There are species, however, such as the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, that will make a hissing sound, an indication that they are scared or attracting a mate.
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How Long Do Cockroaches Live?
The average life span of an adult cockroach is one year. Depending on the type of cockroach, it can vary from six months to three years. Cockroaches are a social insect that reproduces rapidly and efficiently.
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What Smells Repel Cockroaches?
Numerous smells keep cockroaches away. Essential oils with peppermint, lavender, citrus, eucalyptus and other scents are cockroach repellents. Household foods such as coffee grounds, lemons, cucumbers and bay leaves carry aromas and substances that roaches will not want to be around.
“As a pest control professional, I do not typically rely on scents to repel cockroaches. Instead, I am most interested in locating their harborage areas and influencing their environment so that they cannot survive,” says Caroline Kohnert, technical director and staff entomologist of Plunkett’s Pest Control.
She continues, “It is also important to note that it is sometimes not in your best interest to repel cockroaches. This is because a repellent may push the cockroaches into another area where they were previously not located. It is important to apply any pesticide product according to the pesticide label.”
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How Long Can a Cockroach Live Without Its Head?
Cockroaches are known to live without a head for up to a week, due to a nervous and circulatory system that works outside of the head. While cockroaches can live up to 30 days without food, they will die faster without water.
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Are All Cockroaches a Problem Indoors?
Out of roughly 4,600 cockroach species worldwide, only about 30 live in close association with humans. But those few species are infamous for being persistent, unwelcome guests in homes and buildings.
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Why Do Cockroaches Die on Their Backs?
Cockroaches have top-heavy bodies. Before cockroaches die, they lose strength in their muscles, especially those in their scrawny legs. When the weight of their bodies becomes too much, they topple over and die on their backs. If you see any lying on their backs, there is a good chance you were successful in killing the roach.
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What Predators Eat Cockroaches?
Other than people looking to get rid of cockroaches in their homes, the household pest has other predators to worry about. Cockroaches live at the bottom of the food chain and are a healthy protein-filled snack for toads, frogs, opossums, lizards, beetles, spiders, wasps, mice, shrews and more.
According to Kohnert, “When it comes to controlling a cockroach infestation inside a home, relying solely on natural predators is generally not an effective or practical solution. A comprehensive approach, often involving sanitation, exclusion (sealing entry points), and targeted pest control methods (such as baits or professional treatments), is usually necessary for effective cockroach management”.
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What Do You Do If You Have a Cockroach Infestation?
Psst! Struggling with a cockroach infestation? “If you’re experiencing issues with cockroaches, you need to contact a qualified pest control professional who can not only fully diagnose the problem and develop a targeted treatment plan but also recommend steps you can take to prevent these pests from coming back. Each situation is unique, and a pest control professional has the training to tailor treatment accordingly,” says Dr. Jim Fredericks, a board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at NPMA.
Why Prevention Is Key?
Because cockroaches are so adaptable, prevention is your best defense against infestations. “The key is prevention – sealing entry points, eliminating food and water sources and working with a pest control professional to develop a comprehensive strategy,” says Dr. Fredericks.
FAQs
What does a baby cockroach look like?
Baby cockroaches, called nymphs, are small—about the size of a grain of rice. They are usually light brown or tan in color and have soft, smooth bodies. Unlike adult roaches, they don’t have wings and resemble tiny beetles.
What does a cockroach bite look like?
Cockroach bites look like small, red bumps or welts. It may cause mild swelling or itchiness akin to a mosquito bite. While the bites are not dangerous, they can lead to an infection if not kept clean. If you’re in an environment where cockroaches are likely to bite, it’s a sign of a severe infestation.
If you are bitten by a cockroach, wash the area with soap and water, and seek medical help if the bite becomes excessively red, swollen, or painful.
Does bleach kill cockroaches?
Bleach can kill cockroaches on contact, but it’s not an effective way to control an infestation. Since it needs to be applied directly to work, it won’t reach roaches hiding in cracks or nests. Also, it doesn’t prevent them from coming back. Bleach is best for cleaning, not pest control.
About The Experts
- Caroline Kohnert, Technical Director of Plunkett’s Pest Control, has over 15 years of experience in the pest control industry. She is an Associated Certified Entomologist and holds a certificate in Public Health Entomology.
- Dr. Jim Fredericks is a Board Certified Entomologist and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the Executive Director for the Professional Pest Management Alliance.
