How High Can Cockroaches Fly?
WouterCockroaches are able to fly, but not very high. Their wings are about three inches long, and they’re made of chitin, the same material used for insect shells. In addition, their legs can move independently of each other, enabling them to walk forward, backward, and sideways.
Although cockroaches can fly, they often prefer to run because they’re frightened or threatened. They’re actually quite capable of flying, but this is an uncommon behavior for cockroaches. Most cockroaches don’t fly that high, but when they do, it’s only when they need to.
Cockroaches live all over the world and are not picky when it comes to food sources. They’re found in all types of environments and can survive in varying temperatures. There are almost 4600 species of cockroaches, and a few have wings, including the Asian cockroach and the American cockroach. The most common flying cockroaches are the American and the Pennsylvania woods cockroaches. They’re both reddish brown, and have flat wings.
Cockroaches are able to fly short distances horizontally, but they cannot fly any higher than the top of a tree. In fact, they’re not true fliers unless the temperature reaches over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Most species of flying cockroaches don’t fly more than half an inch in the air, and they only glide when they’re threatened.
