What Do Cockroaches Eat?

Cockroaches pose a significant threat to homes and businesses.

They are easily spotted and need to be eliminated. Some cockroaches are notoriously elusive and can be hard to exterminate.

When they appear in your home, you need to act quickly. So, what do cockroaches eat?

Cockroaches eat pretty much anything they can find. They like to eat small bits of food and prefer eating at night.

However, cockroaches aren’t picky eaters. Cockroaches like to eat almost anything that’s edible.

This includes cereal, junk food, and dead animals. Cockroaches also love to eat human food, especially pasta and bread.

These bugs also like to eat soap, hair, and glue. They also eat paint, paper, and leather.

Cockroaches aren’t just picky eaters; they also like to feast on rotten meat, moldy bread, and even vomit.

What Do Cockroaches Eat?

Cockroaches can consume things that people normally throw away as garbage or waste because they are scavengers.

Some cockroaches may last months without food or water, so they may live for a long time when food is scarce, but they can survive for only a short time without water.

American Cockroaches

American cockroaches enter your house in search for food and water supplies, but they usually hide in dark, moist areas during the day when they are inactive.

They dwell in drains and sewers and like damp places such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.

German Cockroaches

It is a cockroach species that is reddish-brown in color with a distinct pattern of light stripes across its wings.

Meat, pet food, bread, and sweets attract German roaches, and they can be found near food in the kitchen or pantry area.

Can Roaches Smell Food?

Yes, cockroaches have a keen sense of smell, which they use to locate food sources.

Roaches might be drawn into your house for various reasons, but they feed on whatever they can find.

Cockroaches find their food and water sources by using their highly sensitive antennae.

Cockroaches are drawn to a house with water damage because water is a good source of moisture for them.

Roaches are attracted to food supplies or garbage. If you leave food out in the garage or attic where cockroaches can find it, they may start living there.

Where Do Cockroaches Find Food?

Dirty Dishes In the Sink

The food left on the plates or the utensils is easy for roaches to find in your kitchen sink, so it is important to wash your dishes immediately after eating to prevent a roach infestation.

Cockroaches prefer it when parts of pasta or vegetables are left to dry in the sink or on the kitchen bench because it’s easy to chew them and consume them.

Crumbs Under the Couches or Tables

It is important to remove crumbs from under couches or tables using tissues or glass plates because if left overnight, the crumbs may attract cockroaches that will eat the leftovers.

Soap and Shampoo Bottles

The soap or shampoo bottles in the bathroom are favorite hiding spots for roaches because they can easily enter them and hide inside in the dark to avoid detection by humans.

Pet Food

Roaches will be attracted to pet food, especially if it is stored in large containers in your pantry area.

Many people leave their pet ‘s leftover kibble on the floor for the pet to eat later, which attracts roaches.

This place is vacant and there are just a lot of leftovers that attract the pests easily.

Trash At Night

They may eat garbage that contains old food particles or the remains of plants that you have discarded in your backyard, so it is important not to leave trash overnight because this will attract roaches into your home.

Roaches like eating rubbish because it is a good source of carbohydrates and protein for them to survive.

Crumbs on the Ground or On the Surface

The roaches will have a better chance of survival if they are able to hide under loose soil or any surface debris on the ground outside your home, especially at night. Because there are fewer chances of being spotted by predators.

At night, when these pests are hiding, the crumbs will be a feast for them. The animals that hunt them won’t be able to find them easily because they are hiding.

Also Read: Why Do Cockroaches Fly Towards You?

Conclusion

In conclusion, what do cockroaches eat?

Cockroaches eat almost anything that contains food. This includes meat, garbage, and any food that is left out in the open.

Cockroaches often live close to humans, so it’s important to keep your house clean to prevent cockroaches from invading your home.