Given how scary cockroaches look, you’d assume they’re vicious predators, but fortunately, that is one cockroach myth that isn’t true. Although cockroaches are a nuisance, they are at the bottom of the food chain.
So what animals eat cockroaches? Cockroaches serve as a good source of protein for amphibians, reptiles, and insects – a number of them might even be present in your backyard.
Despite the prominence and abundance with which they exist, they have a large variety of predators, ranging from beetles and centipedes to birds and snakes.
In this article, we’ll go a little deeper into what kind of animals eat cockroaches, so you can determine if those animals are worth keeping as pets, in your garden, or avoiding entirely.
Toads
Toads are one of the cockroach’s most common enemies. Toads can and will scarf down numerous cockroaches in one go. Toads live in almost every environment, excluding barren deserts. Most of them are dull brown or gray, though some red ones have darker spots.
American toads that snack on cockroaches can be found in most backyards as they like to live in areas where they can find a source of water and shelter. You can encourage more toads to live in your area to find a natural and effective way to eliminate a cockroach infestation.
Frogs
Frogs are more common in the U.S. than toads, and numerous varieties can be found throughout North America, especially in colder areas. The Northern Leopard Frog and the Spring Peeper are two of the most famous frog species.
They are usually 3-5 inches in size and eat cockroaches and other bugs and insects. The Spring Peeper is one of the better-known species that is nocturnal and lives in mostly grassy and woodland areas.
These frogs have a dull brown color that helps them in camouflage. They are only 1-inch long and enjoy eating cockroaches, beetles, and other small bugs.
Lizards
Lizards are reptiles with small heads, long bodies, and tails. Some of them have eyelids and can blink, but most cannot. They smell with their tongues and have scaly skin.
Lizards live on every continent, excluding Antarctica. Cockroaches and other bugs and insects are a lizard’s favorite food. The two types of lizards that cockroaches most often have to look out for are the ones humans keep as pets: geckos and iguanas.
Opossums
Opossums are omnivorous marsupials that are native to North America. Opossums are notorious for eating all sorts of things that humans find distasteful, like cockroaches, worms, roadkill, and even garbage.
Though opossums are often considered ugly, they are nowhere as disconcerting as cockroaches are capable of being.
Opossums can become cockroach destroyers, though many humans are wary of them for fear of getting rabies. However, if you don’t approach one, you can be safe and get rid of cockroaches.
Beetles
As hard as it may be to believe, beetles can be predators, which means they hunt and feed on other insects, using them as food for themselves or their larvae.
In the U.S., beetles are often used to control bugs that damage the ecosystem. Alternatively, they can control bugs that are just a nuisance – such as cockroaches.
While it is not recommended to release predatory beetles in your house, they can be a nice addition to a garden to keep cockroaches and aphids at bay.
Rodents
Rodents such as mice and rats can also eat cockroaches. Rodents can eat cockroaches out of sticky monitoring traps as well, without getting entangled in the trap themselves. The only parts of the roaches left behind are the head, legs, and antennae.
Sometimes, rodents eat the cockroach whole – exoskeleton and all – while other times, only the soft viscera of the abdomens are eaten.
Cats and dogs
Household pets such as cats and dogs also eat cockroaches. Most often, these domesticated pets will not actually eat the cockroach as much as they’d chase it around for fun. For indoor animals, particularly cats, preying on insects is the next best thing to a real-life hunt.
Cats need a large amount of protein to survive. Feral cats you might see on the street obtain their protein by hunting other animals, including mice, rats, birds, and – yes, you guessed it – cockroaches. Dogs are usually better insect hunters than cats but don’t often eat cockroaches.
There is a very small chance that eating roaches may pose health risks to your pet. Particularly if the roach is carrying a disease or if it came in contact with an insecticide you put out in hopes of controlling the pests.
Birds
Though birds do eat cockroaches, it is a rare sight to see. For one, most cockroaches live indoors, and nymphs and adults are usually found in dark, warm, and moist areas. This could be your bathroom or kitchen. As such, most of the time, cockroaches are usually out of sight to birds.
However, some cockroaches can still be found outdoors near sewers or in the process of migration. Though birds do enjoy eating cockroaches from time to time, they are not really a cockroach’s worst enemy.
However, because cockroaches usually live in unsanitary places, they can harm birds (or other animals) that consume them.
Other predators
Although these are the most common cockroach predators, there are also some others that cockroaches should probably fear. Some parasitic wasps target cockroaches and lay their eggs inside cockroach egg cases.
Sometimes, some fungi can prove lethal, releasing spores that attach to insects. Affected cockroaches can spread their condition to other hosts.
Certain spiders also eat cockroaches; some types of ants will also eat cockroaches if they come across them in confined spaces.
Cockroaches are usually faster than ants, so they tend to escape. However, if they are outnumbered and trapped, then ants can surround and prey on them.
Some mites, roundworms, and centipedes also prey on cockroaches.
Inside the home, cockroaches have less fear of predators and usually die of old age. However, some hungry creatures that can rid you of these pests can be pests themselves. Beetle larvae, silverfish, and even other roaches can feed on cockroaches.
However, this is a rare case. Normally, roaches can live up to a month without food. But if the situation gets harsher, and they cannot find other food, they may eat each other. It is rare to see it happen, however.
Even during difficult times, cockroaches only eat other weak ones who are not capable of survival.
Why do these animals eat cockroaches?
Of course, suppose other creatures eat cockroaches. In that case, it will benefit humans since they are ridding us of one of the most unwanted species and the biggest nuisance.
With a livelier, natural habitat, and thriving ecosystem around, you are less likely to have a cockroach problem that gets out of control.
By eating cockroach larvae and even fully grown cockroaches, these predators help to keep the pesky roach population in control.
They also have the added benefit of receiving a whole load of protein from the cockroach it has gathered in its body from consuming waste or decaying matter.
However, most creatures cannot get their required amount of protein from cockroaches and have to eat numerous or vary their diet.
Do humans eat cockroaches?
Yes, humans eat cockroaches. In fact, there are several ways to cook and eat cockroaches. They can be roasted, boiled, fried, or eaten raw. Some people even put them in smoothies! Cockroach flour is also becoming a popular way to add extra protein to your diet.
Although they may not be the most delicious insects out there, they provide many nutrients that can help keep you healthy.
Should you eat cockroaches, though?
My opinion? No.
There are several reasons why you should not eat cockroaches. First and foremost, cockroaches are dirty pests that can carry diseases.
They live in unsanitary places and consume waste and decaying matter, which means they can transmit harmful bacteria and parasites to humans.
Second, cockroaches are not a very nutritious food source. They do not provide a lot of protein, vitamins, or minerals. In fact, most of what they contain is unhealthy for humans.
Third, cockroaches can be difficult to digest. Their hard exoskeleton and waxy skin can make it difficult for your body to break them down and absorb the nutrients they contain. This can lead to digestive problems like gas, constipation, and diarrhea.
Fourth, cockroaches can cause allergic reactions in some people. Their excrement and saliva can cause skin rashes, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems.
All in all, there are many reasons why you should not eat cockroaches, and they are dirty, unhealthy, and difficult to digest. So think again the next time you consider roach tacos for dinner!
FAQs about cockroaches
What do cockroaches eat?
Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers that will eat any organic food available. They are usually drawn to sweets, meats, and starches. Still, They are also known to consume other items such as hair, books, and decaying material.
Are cockroaches dangerous?
Although cockroaches are not dangerous because they are poisonous or bite, they are definitely harmful due to the number of diseases they carry.
Cockroaches can be carriers of microorganisms that cause diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, typhoid, and other viral diseases.
How do I get rid of cockroaches?
You can use home remedies such as boric acid or gel bait to eliminate cockroaches. You can also call pest management professionals who will eliminate any infestations you may have in your home.
