How Long Can a Cockroach Live Under a Cup?

If you’re wondering how long a cockroach can live under a cup, consider this: Cockroaches have an open circulatory system and breathe through holes in different segments of their bodies. They also do not have a mouth, so they can survive a half-hour or more of submersion in water. They will float after that, but they need oxygen to survive. The rest of us don’t have these innate qualities.

While cockroaches can survive under water by suffocation, this is not a particularly effective method. Because of their unique respiratory system, they can survive under a cup of water for more than half an hour, a few minutes, or even a month.

The German cockroach Blattella germanica is one of the most common cockroach species found in California, and even around the world. Their preferred habitats are kitchens and bathrooms. They thrive in warm, humid environments, and dark areas. When you notice them, make sure you clean the area around them to prevent them from reproducing.

Cockroaches are omnivorous creatures, and their instincts are largely driven by their need to survive. They can fit into crevices the size of a penny. They also have incredibly sensitive senses of smell and can follow a scent all the way to a food source. They can feed on virtually anything, including dead bugs and other organic material.