Cockroaches prefer to settle in human homes, as this guarantees them constant access to food. This opportunity allows them to fully develop and reproduce without much difficulty.
To get rid of these pests in your apartment, you need to know what these insects eat, how long they remain viable without food, and how to protect food from their invasion.
What do cockroaches eat at home?
These insects are characterized by high vitality and are not selective in their food intake. Food for cockroaches is just a vital necessity that helps them survive. They are able to absorb any products that are present in a person’s apartment, and in order to get them, they mainly live in the kitchen, where they can always find something to eat.
Basic diet and preferences
Despite the fact that cockroaches eat almost everything, there are certain foods that tempt them the most. They love to eat animal proteins, starch and sweets. They are also attracted to foods containing fats, as well as those that have become moldy or sour. Therefore, at night, they look for food scraps and crumbs near the trash can, in the sink with unwashed dishes, behind the stove and on the kitchen floor.
Nutrition
Most of all, pests love:
- bakery products;
- cereals, porridge;
- vegetables fruits;
- meat;
- sweets;
- pasta;
- flour, starch;
- spices.
What smell attracts cockroaches?
These insects are attracted by all food smells. One of the most basic addictions of cockroaches is beer. The smell of malt drink makes them look for its source to satisfy their natural needs. Therefore, sometimes “advanced pest fighters” use beer as bait in traps placed around the apartment at night.
Water requirement
Cockroaches need not only food, but also water. Liquid is necessary for heat exchange in the insect's body. If they do not have access to it, then they leave such a home. Without water, cockroaches remain viable for up to 10 days. Therefore, to get rid of these uninvited guests in the house, it is necessary to exclude their access to the aquarium, replace old sewer pipes with plastic ones to reduce the amount of condensation, eliminate leaks, and also wipe the sinks and bathtub dry.
What foods do house insects prefer?
Although cockroaches are not gourmets, they do have their favorite types of food. They prefer to eat proteins, starchy foods and sweets.
These will be products such as:
- Meat
- Potato
- Pasta
- Sweet and sweet foods
Other things they like are foods that ferment or mold, like cheeses. If you're making yourself a sandwich at night, be sure to remove those crumbs. For a cockroach it would be a gourmet meal of leftovers to feed from your countertop.
These insects are not picky. They will eat whatever they can, but they have a few foods that they love to eat.
- Sausages
- Starch
- Decaying Matter
- Other insects
You can see how with a list like this, your home could become a prime source of food for cockroaches.
How they eat?
Insects search for food at night. Scientists were able to calculate the amount of food consumed by one individual: it is 9.6 kg of dry food per year. The daily norm of food consumption directly depends on gender.
Females eat 2 times more than males. Such gluttony is associated with their function of procreation. By feeding regularly, they are able to reproduce offspring in the shortest possible time. During the day, the female eats up to 50 g of food, and the male eats 20-30 g.
Attention! The mouthparts of cockroaches are so well developed that they can chew through plastic.
Therefore, attempts by housewives to protect food by wrapping it in a plastic bag will not be able to stop these insects.
Diet for a rainy day
If you carefully hide all edible foods from cockroaches, they will not starve for a long time. They will start eating interior items, furniture, etc. Insects eat:
- glue;
- soap;
- books;
- Leather Products;
- natural fabrics;
- toilet paper;
- newspapers;
- indoor flowers.
When asked what cockroaches eat, you can confidently answer – everything. Moreover, the amount of food consumed by one individual is extremely small. Postage stamp glue is enough for worry-free meals all week. A flower leaf can feed an entire large colony. The female eats more than the male because she cares about the development of new offspring.
On a note!
Red cockroaches are much more common in apartments than black ones. If black pests suddenly disappear from your house, then you should prepare to meet red-haired Prussians. They eat eggs in the ootheca left by the female black representatives of the genus and attack adult individuals.
Food for cockroaches
What do they eat when there is no food in the apartment?
Cockroaches in an apartment feed not only on what people satisfy their hunger with. They consider book bindings, wallpaper, paper, and even the glue found on the back of postage stamps as a source of starch. They are able to extract protein from leather products present in the apartment.
Food for cockroaches can be:
- shoe polish;
- natural fabrics;
- fur;
- houseplants;
- cosmetic cream or lotion.
When widespread, causing a lack of food, these insects can exhibit cannibalism, eating offspring and weaker individuals. They are also able to feed on bedbug eggs and destroy other insects.
Are humans food for cockroaches?!
Cockroaches instinctively consume large amounts of protein. When looking to add protein to their diet, they may choose human hair and nails. They also like animal skin as a source of protein when nothing else is available.
These can be leather items in the house where they will feed on the soft interior. If food supplies become scarce, they are willing to eat dead insects, they may even consider cannibalism and eat their young.
In very rare cases, they even bite people. This is extremely rare, however, and only if infections have reached catastrophic levels is it quite possible
Cockroaches are not equipped with jaws to feed on humans. Their mouthparts are primitive compared to some other insect species.
Their mouthparts allow them to manage their diet by chewing and carrying food. When they try to bite a person, it is difficult for them to pierce the skin. However, they will feed on dead skin, eyelashes and calluses from the human body.
Do cockroaches bite people because they are hungry?
With a lack of nutrition, cockroaches can attack humans. They do this at night, and only as a last resort when there is a threat of starvation. The cockroach bites off pieces of the top layer of human skin. The insect can damage the skin in several places until it is completely saturated.
Cockroach bite
Favorite bite spots:
- brushes;
- eyelids;
- fingers;
- corners of the mouth;
- neck;
- earlobes;
- area around the eyes;
- inner thighs;
- nose.
Young children are at risk because their body odor is more attractive to cockroaches and their skin is softer.
How long can they live without food?
Cockroaches are characterized by high endurance. They remain viable without food for 10-45 days. Access to water plays an important role here. If it is not there, then the insects live no more than 10 days, and if it is present - 45 days.
Larvae can starve much longer than adults. This is due to the fact that they have a slow metabolism and do not need to spend vital energy to maintain a stable body temperature. The larvae remain viable without food for up to 2 months.
What do you feed decorative cockroaches?
Some people prefer to keep exotic species of cockroaches as pets. They can also be used as a complete protein food for reptiles and amphibians. In this case, you need to carefully control what domestic cockroaches eat, since their nutritional value as food directly depends on the quality of food.
The diet of such insects should be balanced, including proteins and carbohydrates. Insects should regularly receive fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, cereals, cereals, and oat bran. Once a week, cockroaches should be given boiled eggs, cottage cheese, meat, as well as high-protein dry food for fish, dogs or cats.
Attention! Lard, tomatoes, nuts, bananas, and cheese should not be used to feed decorative cockroaches.
Differences in the diet of cockroaches in nature and in the home
Cockroaches are one of the most unpretentious pests that can live without food for a long time. Scientists classify such insects into 4 thousand species, of which almost 30 are capable of living in apartments and houses, next to people. The diet of all species depends on the environment and living conditions.
Naturally occurring species of cockroaches originally lived on the African continent, but over time they began to be transported to other parts of the planet, which gave impetus to the worldwide spread of these insects, i.e. they are cosmopolitan.
In their homeland, they live in leaf litter and topsoil, preferring places with high humidity, and the Madagascar species lives on tree branches. Their activity occurs at night. In nature, cockroaches feed on animal and plant debris, and their favorite food is fresh fruits and vegetables.
Interesting!
Recently, American, forest, Turkmen, marbled and Madagascar species of these insects have gained popularity among hobbyists who keep and breed them in terrariums as food for their pets (snakes, lizards, etc.). The diet of food cockroaches consists of carrots, greens, vegetables, cereals, dried daphnia, cat and fish food.
In areas located in colder climatic zones (especially when frost sets in in winter), cockroaches choose heated human housing and nearby premises - sewer lines, ventilation shafts, basements of houses - for a comfortable life. Parasites living in houses and apartments prefer warm and humid places to live, where they can always find food.
The most common domestic species include red cockroaches and black cockroaches. These insects are omnivores and are ready to eat anything, but they go out in search of prey mainly at night. During the day they hide in secluded corners and crevices, and at night they leave their shelters in search of food.
Damage from insects and food debris left behind
These pests spoil human food and make it unsuitable for further consumption. Insects carry pathogens of infectious diseases, as well as helminth eggs, on their shells and paws.
Spoils food
The chitinous shells remaining after molting gradually turn into dust, which a person inhales along with the air. It may cause an allergic reaction.
How to protect food from cockroach infestation?
Having free access to food is the main reason for the appearance of cockroaches in a person’s home. This leads to their massive distribution. To prevent food spoilage at home, you need to follow simple rules.
Among them:
- close the trash can tightly;
- remove waste daily so that leftover food does not remain overnight;
- the filter in the sink should be washed regularly with detergent, avoiding the accumulation of food residues in it;
- Wipe countertops regularly and keep them clean;
- Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink;
- all kitchen appliances must be constantly checked for crumbs;
- Store food in tight containers with an airtight lid.
Cat and dog food should also be kept in sealed containers to prevent pests from getting to it. You should put out a bowl of food only when it is necessary to feed the animal, and then thoroughly wipe the floor near the dining area.
