Do Cockroaches Have Teeth?

WouterOctober 1, 2022

The mandibles are considered jawbones and are present in the mouthparts of arthropods. Cockroaches have mandibles that are triangular in shape. They are used for crushing food and as a defense mechanism against predators. In fact, there are two types of mandibles: incisal teeth and grinding teeth.

While cockroaches don’t have teeth, they do have a labrum, which is a flap-like cuticle at the front of their mouth. It functions similarly to our upper lip, holding food in position and preventing it from moving forward. Although the labrum is small, it’s an important part of the cockroach’s mouth.

While the mandibles of a cockroach are strong and can easily penetrate human skin, their mandibles won’t close tightly around the skin. This means that the roach doesn’t want to do battle with a larger creature. They prefer leftovers and will not engage in a wrestling match.

The digestive system of a cockroach is similar to a human’s. A roach’s gizzard contains enzymes that break down food. The small teeth in the gizzard are used to grind food. As a result, cockroaches do not seek out humans. Despite this, they are able to move at speeds of up to three miles an hour.

Another interesting fact about cockroaches is that they are more distantly related to crustaceans than other arthropods. Their internal clocks change throughout the year, and they are able to reset them if their environment changes.