Unveiling the Diet of Cockroaches: What Do These Pests Really Eat?

In short, cockroaches will eat just about anything. These opportunistic eaters will munch on any items that are derived from living things. Not only are plants and animals common food sources for cockroaches, but they also love to eat glue, cardboard, garbage, hair, and feces. These pests are also known to eat other cockroaches, dead or alive, which makes properly discarding the insects an important step to the removal process. 

Understanding the typical cockroach diet makes it clear why these insects pose such a serious health risk from contamination. It also is essential for figuring out how to prevent infestations by avoiding inadvertently attracting cockroaches to your home or business. Avoidance is a key component in achieving optimal control.

Introduction to Cockroach Dietary Habits 

Cockroaches are known as omnivores, meaning they eat plants and animals. Beyond that, they are not picky eaters and have been known to chow down on many unsavory foods like garbage and waste materials.

Overview of Cockroach Species and Their Environments 

Although more than 4,000 species are skittering across the earth, only a handful are common in the Northeastern region.

Among them, German cockroaches account for most infestations both in this region and worldwide. These cockroaches have two dark stripes down their backs, which helps identify them. They love warm, humid areas, which is why kitchens and bathrooms are frequently their chosen hiding spots.

The American cockroach is one of the largest of the species and has a reddish-brown body. These cockroaches love hiding in unsanitary spots, including drains and sewers, and they enjoy eating garbage and waste. Their diet and dwelling spots contribute to their ability to contaminate surfaces and potentially spread digestive diseases.

Another pervasive problem, the brownbanded cockroach is among the smallest of the species. They grow no larger than 1/2 inch and scavenge for food just about anywhere. Brownbanded cockroaches can transmit as many as 33 (or more) types of bacteria. 

Why Understanding Their Diet Is Crucial for Pest Control 

A solid understanding of what cockroaches like to eat and what attracts them allows you to take proactive steps to create a less inviting environment. In turn, it enhances your ability to achieve lasting cockroach control.

What Cockroaches Eat 

As mentioned, cockroaches eat plants, animals, and other organic materials. They enjoy a diverse diet, which can make it tricky to identify and eliminate their food sources. 

Broad Range of Cockroach Diets 

Cockroaches’ favorite foods include starchy, greasy, and meaty options. Although all species will generally eat anything, some are more notorious than others for their unconventional food choices.

For example, German cockroaches love sweets and greasy eats, but they also will eat toothpaste and other organic matter. American cockroaches eat anything, including other insects and plant materials. Brownbanded cockroaches love non-traditional starchy items like book bindings and wallpaper paste.

Common Food Sources in Human Habitats 

Given their diverse diet, it’s easy to see why cockroaches tend to hang out in and near kitchens. Some popular food sources include: 

• Pantry items 
• Food left out on counters 
• Dirty dishes 
• Pet food 
• Crumbs and spills 
• Garbage, composts, and refuse materials 
• Cardboard, newspapers, magazines, piles of paper bags 

Factors That Attract Cockroaches to Homes and Businesses 

What attracts cockroaches? Like many pests, these insects seek out three main elements: food, water, and shelter. That makes human spaces particularly appealing because they often provide easy access to all three. To make matters worse, some cockroaches are attracted by the pheromones secreted by other cockroaches, which can quickly increase their numbers in a particular area. 

Accessibility to Food 

Food is largely the biggest attraction for cockroaches. Eliminating access to food in all its forms can make your home or business a less inviting place for cockroaches to call home.

Water and Moisture Sources 

Many species of cockroach love moisture-rich environments. Eliminating access to water, such as leaky pipes, saturated plants, and moisture in walls around sinks and tubs, can help reduce infestation risk.  

Preventing Infestations Through Proper Sanitation 

Although sanitation isn’t an absolute guarantee, it can make a tremendous difference in reducing the risk of infestation. It’s also essential for enhancing any pest control measures you may implement. Cockroaches will be more attracted to bait if they don’t have access to other foods.

Daily Cleaning Practices to Reduce Attraction 

Eliminating as many food particles as possible, reducing moisture, and sealing cracks and crevices can make the premises inhospitable for six-legged pests. An excellent daily routine could include activities such as:

• Vacuum floors, cracks, and crevices to eliminate crumbs and debris. 
• Wipe down counters and floors. 
• Don’t let dirty dishes sit on counters or in sinks. 
• Clean appliances and periodically clean under them. 
• Check drawers for any food debris or crumbs. 
• Promptly clean up any spills. 
• Use pest-proof garbage and waste receptacles and remove garbage regularly. 
• Eliminate clutter, such as piles of mail or boxes. 
• Inspect food deliveries and other items coming into the home to ensure they are cockroach free. 

Secure Food Storage Solutions 

Food, including pet food, should be placed in airtight, lidded containers. Glass jars, metal containers, and other rigid receptacles offer protection that prevent pests from getting inside. When possible, recycle cardboard boxes and remove them because they are a potential food source.

Advanced Strategies to Deter Cockroach Infestations 

Regular cleaning and sanitation are excellent initial steps to preventing cockroaches. However, if you want to increase the effectiveness of these measures, it’s helpful to implement a couple of additional strategies. 

Structural Fixes to Deny Access 

Seal up cracks, crevices, gaps, and holes in walls, foundations, and other areas to prevent cockroaches and other pests from walking right in from outside. Add weather stripping around windows and doors and inspect all deliveries before bringing them inside. Consider installing an exclusion system, which provides a rigid, permanent barrier to protect vulnerable areas from pests and nuisance wildlife. 

Regular Inspections and Early Intervention 

Cockroaches often hide around water heaters, inside kitchen cabinets, under appliances, around sinks and bath fixtures, and in crawl spaces. Performing routine inspections can help you spot potential issues early and allow you to gain control before the infestation becomes widespread. 

Professional Pest Control Solutions 

Cockroaches can be notoriously difficult to eliminate on your own. Partnering with a reputable professional early can help you assess the species causing a problem. Experts can also determine how and why they are coming inside, which can aid you in crafting a thorough plan to eliminate them now and prevent them in the future.

When to Call in Experts 

Sure, you can try DIY cockroach control. Many baits and other forms of chemical control are widely available. However, chemical control alone won’t solve the issue. Many of the chemicals that are sold at stores are considered to be repellants, that may only force the cockroaches to other areas of the property. Worse, if you don’t get to the root of the problem, the cockroaches may continue breeding and expanding their reach throughout the property. 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approaches 

Professional cockroach control requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes prevention and monitoring. IPM checks all the boxes. It allows homeowners and businesses to achieve effective control by implementing preventative measures that create an environment where pests won’t thrive. It includes attention to sanitation and sealing off entry points, identifying the pests and how they are getting inside, and applying appropriate treatment measures.

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Help You Get Rid of Cockroaches 

Catseye has decades of expertise and experience in eliminating cockroaches from homes and businesses. We rely on innovative pest control techniques and take an IPM approach that includes customized treatment plans and ongoing monitoring. You don’t have to struggle with cockroaches alone. Rely on Catseye to keep your property pest free. Contact us today for more details or to schedule an inspection.

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