Cockroaches have been living on earth for an enormous amount of time, and they are here to stay. This is because they are so resilient and adaptable creatures and can go for very long without any food or water.
Living mostly in the wild, these world’s most infamous insects have become highly unwelcome guests in our homes. For many of us, this common household pest provokes genuine anxiety, disgust, and even terror.
If you’re curious how long these creepy-crawly critters can live without food and water, keep reading to find out.
Can Cockroaches Starve To Death?
Even though cockroaches, like all living creatures, need food to survive, it’s very unlikely that you could starve them.
These insects have gone through millions of years of instinctual evolution. They have learned to utilize any crumb or scrap they can find, they could possibly eat it and live off of it. And they really don’t require a lot of food to sustain themselves and survive.
Although roaches are able to live long without consuming anything, it seems like they are always hungry as they spend most of their time searching for food and eating. Food largely influences their behavior, so understanding what and how they eat can be of great help in order to control them.
However, dehydrating these insects is a more likely scenario. When they can’t find water, cockroaches will rely on humidity to maintain their body processes, such as molting.
More harm to the cockroach will be caused in a house with no available sources of moisture, such as leaky pipes or other standing water, than if you took all the food away.
How Much Food And Water Does A Cockroach Need To Survive?
Those who had to deal with cockroaches in their homes know that these insects are quick to invade and very difficult to get rid of. This is mainly because of their unique eating habits and their ability to consume a great diversity of food.
Roaches are omnivorous scavengers, thus, they tend to feed on just about anything they come across. They are capable of eating organic matter and things that humans are not able to digest, like cellulose. Therefore, besides eating mostly fresh food, they’ll also eat pantry food, garbage, pet food, and even clothing and household items like books or cardboard boxes.
They are constantly on the search for something to eat but they don’t eat a lot of food on their own and can live off tiny amounts of food for extended periods of time. However, as they live in large colonies, it is possible for them to make a void in any food source.
The exact amount of food that a cockroach consumes will vary based on its type. But it has been estimated that on average, they are capable of eating about half their body weight a day.
As for water, cockroaches don’t need a lot. A few drops once in a while on a regular basis are enough to sustain a large roach colony. So if your home has areas with high humidity, mildew or mold, or water damage, it can become a haven for these pests.
How Long Does It Take For A Roach To Starve?
Cockroaches are tough insects designed for survival, thus, they are not likely to die so easily. Even if you manage to isolate the roach from food entirely, it is not enough to make it perish.
What is spectacular, they can eat practically no food and survive for a long time. This is why those cockroaches that have multiple nervous centers, are able to live such a long time without their heads.
How long it takes for a cockroach to starve depends on the variety of a cockroach. The large species, namely American cockroaches, will survive two or even three months without feeding. The smaller and most common species found in homes, namely German cockroaches, can go for up to 42 days, but usually one month, without food.
However, they will need water sooner as they are very sensitive to dehydration. As long as there is no moisture inside, they cannot survive and will soon die of dehydration. The German cockroaches can only live up to 12 days without water while the American cockroaches are able to survive about a month without water. This is the reason why roaches are typically found in humid or high-moisture areas around the house, such as bathrooms and basements.
You might be asking how it is possible that roaches can live so long without having something to eat.
Cockroaches are cold-blooded creatures known as ectotherms. Since they don’t retain their body heat, their energy is spent in other ways. Roaches don’t need extra energy for this task, which enables them to slow down their metabolism and restrict their movements when it’s cold outside. As such, they can go longer without consuming energy.
All in all, the trick of eliminating access to food and water sources can help eliminate the cockroach problem in the long run. Therefore, in order to avoid cockroach infestations, it is crucial to limit standing water and eliminate any exposed food sources in your home.
But even if you take great precautions, roach infestations can be persistent problems. In the event of a severe infestation, relying on a pest control professional is highly recommended. A licensed, knowledgeable, and experienced pest control technician will treat your home or business efficiently so you can rest assured that your property is secure.
Let the experts at Peachtree Pest Control in Atlanta, GA, help you resolve your cockroach problems. Contact us today as we provide safe and effective solutions to remove these pests for good!