Have you ever had something like this happen to you? You're lying in bed at 3 in the morning, unable to sleep. You roll out of bed, slip into comfy slippers, and shuffle off down the hallway towards the kitchen, and the leftover chocolate cake calling to you from the sideboard. All seems calm in the house, but when you flick on the light, something skitters across the floor. Another something silently races up the wall into the heating vent. And horror of all horrors, 3 somethings crawl out from under the plastic wrapping on the chocolate cake and disappear into a crack… OH NO! NOT THE CHOCOLATE CAKE!
Chances are, if you see a few cockroaches in your home, there are hundreds or thousands more crawling around inside your wall voids or hiding under floorboards, in attic spaces, or anywhere else they can hide. So, it only makes sense to address the question. "Do cockroaches bite?"
Cockroaches do bite.
Cockroaches are omnivores that eat plants and meat, and they have been known to eat human flesh, both of the living and the dead. However, this is rare, as they are more likely to eat other available foods, like crumbs on counters, or food left in open garbage cans. But when their populations get out of control, and food sources become scarce, this is when they are more likely to bite humans. The most likely things they will eat are fingernails, eyelashes, feet, and hands. And if they do bite, those bites can cause irritation, lesions and swelling. But when cockroaches bite, they are probably not trying to bite you; they are more likely trying to get at food remnants left on your skin, especially on your hands or around your mouth.
Since roach bites can be dangerous, here are some facts to consider:
How can you prevent roach bites? Keep food out of the bedroom. Don't eat in bed and clean up any spills or crumbs immediately, if you do eat in the bedroom.
What should I do if I get bitten and the bite doesn't go away in 4 days? If this happens, it is advisable to see a doctor.
What can I do if I am worried about being bitten? If you are seeing roaches, or signs of roaches in your home, being bitten is the least of your worries. These insects can spread harmful bacteria and human spread pathogens. You should have the problem immediately addressed by a pest control company.
Big Blue Bug Solutions has trained pest professionals who can do a thorough inspection and locate all the hiding spots of invading cockroaches, and completely eliminate them from your home. Big Blue Bug has been satisfying customers and getting rid of cockroaches for over 75 years. We can help, call us today.