How Can a Cockroach Get in Your Ear?

Cockroaches are not known to lay eggs in human ears. However, they can live inside a person’s ear for up to 3 days if conditions are right. In one incident, a 60-year-old man tried to remove a cockroach from his ear, but was unsuccessful. He then sprayed pesticides inside his ear, which eventually killed the roach.

A dead roach that is in the ear may be removed by flushing the ear with warm water. However, if the roach has scratched the eardrum, you should visit a doctor immediately. A medical professional can remove the roach with graspers and kill it with medications. The eardrum may also be examined and antibiotic ear drops may be prescribed.

Roaches prefer to live in dark places, so it is common for them to crawl into humans’ ears. Because of their positive thigmotaxis, cockroaches often prefer to explore in the dark. The smell of cheese, beer, and bread will also attract roaches. They also love the smell of earwax.

Symptoms of a cockroach in your ear may be difficult to detect, especially if the roach has made it past the eardrum. In many cases, the roach’s movement near the eardrum is painful.