Cockroaches have established themselves as successful species. Beyond the feeling of disgust and ickiness that they provoke, they are equipped with many methods to protect themselves. Although their behavior tends to be haphazard, there’s always a logical reason behind it. So, why do cockroaches come toward you to escape?
Here’s the short version:
- It is an instinctual defense mechanism
- Since they don’t have fangs or claws, they run toward you to startle you
- They recognize that you are afraid of them, so they play on that fear
These statements have probably made you realize that cockroaches are evil geniuses. Well not really. The basic cockroach thinks its actions through and approaches you intending to save itself.
Let’s look further into this defense mechanism!
Why Do Cockroaches Come Toward You To Escape?
For over a million years, cockroaches have lived among us. There are over 4000 species and an innumerable quantity of roaches around. These creatures have developed numerous strategies to co-exist and survive.
People fear cockroaches and tend to back away as soon as they see these creepy crawlies. However, an interesting fact is that they are also scared of us, but they are smart enough to hide it under their haphazard persona.
Cockroaches have adapted a survivalist mindset and have evolved through reproduction. As time progresses, they adapt according to their surroundings, and their behavior changes. One of these changes was when cockroaches recognized the surprise element and decided to operate on that.
One of these changes was when cockroaches recognized the surprise element and decided to operate on that.
These intelligent insects quickly adapt to the environment, and according to various researches, they can even acquire knowledge and transfer it to upcoming generations! Unbelievable, isn’t it? Evolution is amazing.
Well, this is how their action of running after you to escape became a reality.
The ones with this trait were successful at reproduction, and they passed it on to future generations of roaches, that have adopted the technique.
Cockroaches are aware that you are terrified of them!
Unfortunately, these evil genius cockroaches have taken note of our immediate response after witnessing them. Therefore, they have concluded that we, as human beings, are startled by their existence.
Whether it may be disgust, fear, or a general repulsion, they know they don’t fall under the awww puppies and kittens category.
Therefore, these manipulative creatures can take advantage of that fear to escape their impending demise, potentially being squished under a shoe about 15 times their size.
Cockroaches are fully equipped with sensory capabilities and, therefore, can detect any change in the surroundings or the air current. This leads them to gauge their surroundings upon spotting us to look for potential hiding spots. Then they run after you, freak you out, and make their way towards an escape.
As fascinating as knowing how devious and intelligent cockroaches can be, it is terrifying. Cockroaches opt for this technique with various predators as they shock them by running after them, scaring them, and then finding their safe spot as an escape.
Some human beings outsmart this activity and still manage to crush them, while others just back away and pretend they didn’t see the roach.
Cockroaches have done a fantastic job at making their weakness their biggest strength. They can recognize that they’re not a venomous species, nor do they have paws or deadly fangs to defend themselves against powerful human beings.
Therefore, they opt to startle the source of threat to protect themselves.
Cockroaches may also release those wings and fly towards you!
We’ve already discussed the reality of cockroaches running after you. However, they operate on the element of surprise and, therefore, can use another ability to their advantage, i.e., flying. This ability is more likely to outsmart your intentions of killing the cockroach.
For more or less the same reasons, cockroaches can spring out those deep brown wings and fly towards you to evoke a flee response. They go to various lengths to operate on the element of surprise.
Since they evolve according to their environment, their knowledge of scaring you through a startling method has morphed into an instinct.
Their knowledge of scaring you through a startling method has morphed into an instinct.
Flying is one of their greatest strengths that they can use to their advantage to escape various predators. Although they don’t bring any poison or harmful properties as they fly towards you, they play on the benefit of speed and often take sharp turns to chase you to maximize the fear response before eventually flying towards their escape.
Cockroaches can even jump on you!
Due to the same defense mechanism, some of these small monsters may even land or jump on you. The intention is to increase the level of surprise to ensure that you are fully disarmed and unable to kill them.
In such circumstances, it is important to note that these creatures are completely harmless and can’t do much beyond jumping or landing on you.
However, this technique can be dangerous for people who may experience major panic attacks due to their feelings of fear and disgust towards the specie and land in an accident.
This technique can be dangerous for people who may experience major panic attacks due to their feelings of fear and disgust towards the specie and land in an accident.
People are generally petrified of their spiky legs and believe that cockroaches will be able to use these to scratch or harm you. However, if you’re dealing with a chase and escape situation, stay calm!
They’re a harmless specie and wish to exploit your fear, don’t give in to it!
Conclusion: Keep A Calm Front!
Now that we’re aware that the typical chase, run, and escape method adopted by these cockroaches is a mere defense mechanism, the best way to escape it is to keep a calm front even when they fly towards you.
Although that may be impossible and require you to shut down your nerves, the next best option is to ensure that you don’t run after a cockroach after spotting them.
If you’ve spotted a cockroach in your room, the ideal technique is to use a cockroach-killing spray in all corners and wait for the poison to do its magic. The process of having to deal with palpitations or a near panic attack resulting from a cockroach running or flying towards you or even landing on you is not worth it.
Therefore, don’t attack them if you don’t want them to defend themselves! Stay calm, keep your legs above the ground, and let the insect-killing poison do all the work.
