How Long Can a Cockroach Live Without Food?
WouterThere is no exact answer to the question “how long a cockroach can live without food.” This depends on the species and the type of environment the cockroach is in. Some species can survive for months without food, while others can only survive for a week without food. Roaches are cold-blooded, which means they adapt to their surroundings and lose their body temperature. While warm-blooded animals have chemical reactions that help them keep their body temperature high, roaches do not. Therefore, they will keep their body temperature low in order to conserve their energy.
Cockroaches can survive for about a month without food, though they are extremely susceptible to dehydration and cannot survive for more than a week without water. The cockroach will start losing weight immediately when it is starving or thirsty, and its mitosis will slow by 50%. The cockroach will eventually succumb to dehydration and die of thirst.
In a situation where food is scarce, cockroaches will try to find alternative sources of food. Paper, wallpaper paste, and even glue on stamps are all sources of starch that cockroaches can eat. Cockroaches also have one of the most primitive mouths of any animal. The front portion is mainly for holding food, while the rear part is used to chew and grind food.
When cockroaches are not fed, they will reduce their activities, thereby using their energy for other vital functions. The temperature drives these functions, which is why cockroaches can survive for up to a month without food.
