How Long Can co*ckroaches Live Without Food or Water? | Reliant Pest Management (2024)

• By Trey Clawson

• July 26, 2023

As of 2021, over 11% of Americans have seen roaches in their homes. While you may associate these nasty pests with unclean habits or big city living, they can appear almost anywhere –and are notoriously difficult to nip in the bud.

If you suspect a roach problem in your own home or rental property, it’s a good idea to invest in a pest control service or exterminator. However, it’s also important to stay educated on these creatures’ living habits so you can prevent your infestation from returning.

Read on to learn more about co*ckroaches’ survival tactics and how to counteract them .

Key Takeaways

• Many species of co*ckroaches can survive up to a month without food .
• co*ckroaches can survive for up to a week without water.
• Primary co*ckroach food sources include leftover human food, crumbs, spills, and other organic matter (i.e. pet food, dead skin, rotting fruit and veggies).
• Secondary co*ckroach food sources include other household substances like soap, glue, starches, and cardboard.
• To prevent an infestation, keep a cool, clean, dry home and invest in preventative measures (like sealing entry points, sprinkling boric acid, and diffusing essential oils).

How Long Can co*ckroaches Survive Without Food?

If you’ve tried to eliminate food sources in your home and are still seeing co*ckroaches, you might be wondering how long they can survive without food. Since co*ckroaches are cold-blooded insects, they are able to survive for up to a month without food. Cold-blooded insects and reptiles take on the temperature of their surroundings in order to survive for longer in harsh environments.

How Long Can co*ckroaches Survive Without Water?

Roaches can only live without water for up to one week. While it’s nearly impossible to kill co*ckroaches via starvation (they’ll always find a secondary food source or even resort to cannibalism), it is much harder for them to survive without water. This is why it’s crucial to keep your home cool and dry.

Will co*ckroaches Leave If There Is No Food?

co*ckroaches will eventually leave the premises in the absence of food. However, it’s nearly impossible to reach this point, as co*ckroaches can survive for up to a month without food and can scavenge and make a food source out of nearly anything. Sealing off or eliminating food sources may help curb your infestation, but won’t make it go away forever.

What Do co*ckroaches Eat in Your Home?

co*ckroaches will eat almost anything, but there are some common culprits to look out for in your home.

Main Food Sources

Below are the primary food sources that co*ckroaches will look for first in your home.

Food Scraps

• Leftover or unsealed food
• Crumbs
• Liquid spills.

Roaches love sugar, and can survive for a long time off of a single crumb.

Organic Matter

• Rotting fruits and vegetables
• Dead insects
• Feces
• Fingernail clippings, hair, dead skin
• Pet food

co*ckroaches will even resort to cannibalism if necessary.

Secondary Food Sources

If your home is cleared of primary food sources, co*ckroaches will move on to these less delicious meals.

Cardboard and Paper

co*ckroaches are happy to feed on cardboard and paper, so it’s important to take out all your trash frequently (not just the food waste). Keep in mind that paper was once organic plant matter as well.

Soap and Toothpaste

co*ckroaches feed on soap and toothpaste, so be careful when it comes to leaving soap and other bathroom products exposed in your shower or on your sink. Soap in particular contains fat that sustains co*ckroaches, and is non-toxic to them.

Book Bindings

co*ckroaches feast on the glue, cardboard, and paper found in book bindings, so be careful not to keep large stacks of books if you have an infestation.

Glue and Adhesives

co*ckroaches will eat glue and adhesive residue, as these substances often come from organic matter and may contain fat or protein to sustain them.

Pet Waste

Roaches will not hesitate to eat any form of organic matter, even feces or urine. If you have pets, be sure to keep their areas clean (i.e. if you have a litter box, change the litter frequently).

Preventing a co*ckroach Infestation

co*ckroach infestations can be hard to kick, but there are steps you can take to keep these nasty bugs at bay. First and foremost, it’s crucial to keep a clean, cool, dry home.

Don’t leave unsealed food out and wipe down kitchen and bathroom surfaces frequently. Inspect any packages that enter your home and wipe your feet on a doormat every time you step inside. Limit dining to one room, keep your sinks dry, and keep food sealed in airtight containers.

As a preventative measure, you may want to cover any holes, cracks, or crevices in your walls, floors, and ceiling with caulk or spackle. Better yet, sprinkle boric acid (a natural roach repellent) near these entry points and pour bleach down your drains frequently. Finally, diffusing certain essential oils with scents that repel co*ckroaches (such as peppermint or citronella) will help signal these pests to stay away.

You can treat your home yourself with spray products and other insecticides, but ultimately investing in a pest control professional is the best way to ensure your infestation stays away.