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What Do Cockroaches Eat?

March 7, 2022 - Cockroaches

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a cockroach eating food scraps

Not very picky when it comes to what they will eat, so what do cockroaches eat, well everything that is organic. While they can survive for a long time without eating, they spend most of their time searching for food or eating.

Cockroaches in Anaheim eat both plant and animal matter, and if food sources are minimal, they will eat just about any organic material, including many items that we would not consider edible. The more straightforward question to answer is, “What won’t cockroaches eat?”. Cockroaches will not eat plastic or metal, and certain essential oils can help to repel these creatures.

What do cockroaches eat most often?

While cockroaches eat many different things, there are certain types of food that they prefer. Their favorite foods include:

  • Sweets

  • Starches

  • Animal Proteins

Cockroaches also enjoy cheese, greasy foods, and anything fermented or moldy. Since these creatures enjoy many of the same foods that humans do, kitchens, restaurants, and pantries are especially susceptible to a cockroach invasion.

What do cockroaches eat when there is no food available?

Cockroaches are excellent scavengers and see many everyday items as food sources. Cockroaches look for starches in many human foods. Starch is also available to cockroaches from the binding of books, paper, wallpaper pastes, and glues. Cockroaches see dead insects, human hair, animal skin, and even fingernails as sources of protein. Decaying plants, dead wood, and waste in sewers are all up for grabs for a hungry cockroach. If food is scarce enough, cockroaches will even resort to eating their young.

If there truly is no food available, many species of cockroaches can survive for about a month with only water.

What’s attracting cockroaches to your home?

Cockroaches are attracted to strong-smelling foods or decaying food from the garbage. Like most other pests, roaches consistently search for food, water, and shelter. If you find cockroaches around your home or business, it means that these pests have found what they need to survive there. A missed crumb on the kitchen floor, drop of grease on the stove, or garbage can that has sat a little too long without being emptied can attract cockroaches. 

How To Prevent Cockroaches

You can help prevent cockroaches in your home by storing foods in tightly sealed containers, especially sugary foods. Make sure to keep tables, counters, and other surfaces that come into contact with food clean and free of crumbs. Keep sinks clear of dishes and leftover water. Overall, cleanliness is vital for cockroach prevention.

Find out more about professional home pest control and commercial exterminator solutions in Anaheim by reaching out to A-1 Bonded Termite today!

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