What Do Cockroaches Eat?
Find out what cockroaches eat, what attracts these unwelcome dinner guests, and how to eliminate their favorite food sources.
Powered by the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science®
Dietary habits of cockroaches
Cockroaches are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They particularly like starches, sweets, greasy foods, and meats, but roaches are not picky eaters. They’ll feast on almost anything that is derived from something that was once a living organism, such as plants and animals. They will also eat cardboard boxes, book bindings, wallpaper glue, stamps, leather, feces, fingernails, hair, toothpaste, soap, their own cast-off skins, and even other cockroaches.1,2
Did you know?
German Cockroach vs American Cockroach
While cockroaches will eat just about anything, they can go a surprisingly long time without food. American cockroaches, can survive two or three months without feeding, can only live about a month without water. German cockroaches—one of the most common species found in homes throughout the world — can only go 12 days without water, but can survive for about 42 days without food.3
How roaches affect human food
Because cockroaches will just as readily feast on feces in a sewer or a cat litter box as they will on that homemade cake left out on the counter, they can transfer pathogenic microbes to our food and cooking surfaces simply by walking across them, causing food poisoning, diarrhea, dysentery, and other illnesses.1
In addition, some cockroach species emit an odorous pheromone in their feces to attract mates and let other roaches know they’ve found a good place to nest and eat. When roach populations are high, these stinky secretions can be detected by humans and also leave a foul taste on the food that we eat.4
Tastes like cardboard
Cardboard boxes not only make a tasty snack for hungry cockroaches, they also provide a cozy space for these creepy critters to hide and breed. To help prevent cockroaches, use plastic bins for storage instead and be sure to toss or recycle cardboard boxes outside the home immediately.
Eliminate cockroach food sources
Effective cockroach control starts by making your home unappetizing for these pesky creatures. Store all food in air-tight containers, wipe up spills immediately, and regularly clean your kitchen. Eliminating competing food sources also helps make cockroach baits more effective because the roaches will be even more attracted to the bait if they have nothing else to eat. Find more expert tips for how to help get rid of cockroaches.
Find solutions for roaches
Explore our family of products designed to help you get tough in the fight against cockroaches and keep them from invading your home.
Sources:Related
How to Help Prevent Bugs
Bugs invade homes looking for food, water, or shelter. By eliminating the things that attract insects, you can help prevent these critters from coming inside.
How Weather Affects Insects
Find out how outdoor temperatures and rain levels affect insects, including their behavior, reproduction rates, feeding habits, and more. Plus, learn what weather conditions drive bugs inside for shelter.
6 Ways to Help Get Rid of Bugs
It’s not always possible to completely get rid of bugs indoors. But we’re here to help with a combination of the right products and expert tips to help you keep bugs away from your home and loved ones.