The Common Food Items That Causes Cockroach Infestations

December 24, 2020

If you frequently have leftovers of your meals lying around the house for an extended period of time, you must have encountered a cockroach in your home. Cockroaches aren’t usually picky about what they eat and describing the range of things that they can eat is inexhaustible. Hence they are known as scavengers, feeding on leftover food that lies around. This article will explore some of the things that cockroaches eat, which will give you enough information to prevent any leftover traces of those items and practice efficient pest control.

What type of food do they look for?

When you know the type of food that attracts cockroaches, you would better be able to take preventive measures like clearing any trails of these foods and keeping them in sealed containers. However, how would you know what types of foods attract cockroaches? Well, the food that attracts them essentially comes down to 2 criteria.

Firstly, the food has to come from either a plant or animal, since cockroaches are omnivorous. Secondly, the food has to be easily accessible and within the reach of the cockroaches. Hence, it is vital to keep food items in sealed containers and in areas that cockroaches are not able to reach.

Which types of food attract them the most?

Animal proteins, starches, and sweets are the favourites for cockroaches. These are the go-to meals that appeal to them. In fact, they will leave the leftovers of other foods when animal proteins, starches and sweets are in the vicinity. The next favourites for cockroaches are greasy foods, fermented foods, and cheese. Hence, keeping your sugary foods sealed in tight containers, thoroughly cleaning your meat preparation stations, and maintaining your rooms free from starch crumbs are ideal strategies for keeping cockroaches at bay.

Alternative food sources

Cockroaches are omnivorous creatures and are primarily scavengers. This means that they obtain their proteins and starch from dead and decaying organic matter. Being scavengers sometimes lead them to obtain food from unexpected and unfathomable sources for sustenance. For example, cockroaches can make food out of paper, glue, book bindings, and wallpaper paste. Their protein can also be derived from things such as animal skin, dead insects, fingernails and even human hair. In dire cases where there is no food around their area, they start invading into dumpsites and feast on decaying plants, human waste, dead wood, and sewage.

Conclusion

The numerous things that cockroaches can eat are surprising. Typically, you would only realise the range of things they eat when you have a cockroach infestation. You would also realise that these pests are strange enemies to deal with at home. Even when being conscientious and cleaning up your leftovers, cockroaches can remain dormant in your house for months, surviving only on water. Therefore, adopting effective pest control strategies early can help keep your house free from cockroaches.

As your one-stop pest control solutions, Pet Clinic is here to help you rid your house of these pesky pests. We take pride in our extensive pest control services, covering cockroach and termite control, to even disinfection misting. Cultivate a healthy home environment with us!

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