What Eats Cockroaches?

Need to get rid of cockroaches? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

Natural Predators For Cockroaches

There are many different animals that act as predators to cockroaches in the wild. You may think cockroaches have rapid reflexes just to run away from humans, but it turns out their propensity for a quick getaway provides protection against many different predators including mammals, birds, amphibians and other reptiles. Even other insect species will happily prey on cockroaches. 

Large Cockroach Predators

Hedgehogs have been known to make a meal of a cockroach or two. Other mammals that eat cockroaches are opossums, rats, and even house cats! Many different bird species love to eat cockroaches, but find that the cockroach’s ability to live in small cracks or dark, hard-to-reach places like pipes and sewers a deterrent to eating as many as they might like. 

Amphibian Cockroach Predators

Frogs and turtles are great predators of cockroaches as they all like to inhabit damp, shady environments. Leopard geckos, skinks, bearded dragons, monitor lizards, iguanas, panther chameleons, and several other reptile species will actively hunt cockroaches. 

Insect Cockroach Predators

Certain species of spiders like to prey on cockroaches. Though cockroaches are quicker than ants, ants will corner or trap a cockroach so as to overwhelm them with their sheer numbers. Fire ants and Argentine ants are two of the most well-known predatory ant species for cockroaches. 

Mites, roundworms and centipedes will also make a meal of a cockroach if they can. A few different species of larger beetles have been known to feed on cockroaches. 

These various critters that eat cockroaches can be beneficial in lowering the overall cockroach population, however, you wouldn’t want to try to get rid of any cockroach infestations in or near your home by introducing one of its predators into the mix. You might find that instead of ridding yourself of cockroaches, you now have two entrenched pest infestations that need to be eradicated. Instead of dealing with cockroaches on your own, call a pest control specialist who will help you implement an integrated pest management approach.

Find A Pest Specialist For Cockroach Control

If you are concerned about cockroach control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.