What Cockroach Has Wings?
When a cockroach has wings, it’s likely to be a male, but sometimes a female will be able to fly, too. Wood cockroaches are often found flying around, but they are mostly found outdoors. Other common species with wings include the smoky brown cockroach and the Australian cockroach. The former has wings that cover the entire back of the insect, while the latter has wings that extend past the tip of the abdomen. The wings of the Australian cockroach are a unique yellow color.
Cockroaches have four pairs of wings, although they only use one pair for flight. The front set of wings is thick and has similar coloration to the body, while the back pair is thin and semi-transparent. To fly, a cockroach lifts its front wings and keeps them raised. The back pair is used for gliding.
Cockroaches are not great fliers, but they can fly a few hundred metres in a single flight session. They can fly to a height of about 10 metres. By comparison, most other flying insects have small bodies and big wings, making it difficult for them to fly very far.
While the majority of cockroach species have wings, it doesn’t mean they’re fully functional. Some cockroach species have wings that are vestigial, while others spend all their time underground, making them incapable of flying.