{"id":1187,"date":"2022-08-02T17:10:05","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T17:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2022-08-02T17:10:07","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T17:10:07","slug":"can-a-cockroach-swim-or-survive-in-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/can-a-cockroach-swim-or-survive-in-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Cockroach Swim or Survive in Water?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Cockroaches are among the most <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/how-many-cockroaches-are-in-the-world-how-many-are-in-your-building\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"58\">resilient, persistent creatures worldwide<\/a>. They have been around for about 300 million years. They are a type of insect that is typically found in dark, damp places.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <strong><em>can a cockroach swim or survive in water<\/em><\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>They can survive in a wide range of environments and even thrive in water for a long time.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Some species of roaches can old their breath for up to 40 minutes<\/li><li>Some species of roach can swim\/float<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s look more closely at what happens to roaches when they are placed in water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a Cockroach Swim or Survive in Water?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Roaches breathe air, so if they are submerged in water they will die. Just like humans, roaches need air to survive. But it can take a while for a roach to drown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roaches can survive being submerged in water for up to 40 minutes (depending on the species). If they reach a position where they can get air once again, they can survive for a long time in water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:30px\"><em>Roaches can survive being submerged in water for up to 40 minutes (depending on the species). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some species of roaches can &#8220;swim&#8221; or &#8220;float&#8221;, but others cannot. The word <em>swim <\/em>isn&#8217;t really applicable to the behaviors roaches take in water. They don&#8217;t have the ability to direct their movements in water the <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/cockroach-vs-water-bug\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"960\">way a waterbug<\/a> might. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But some species of roaches can move toward the surface of the water in order to avoid drowning. This is why roaches are occasionally seen coming <em>up <\/em>from a drain or catchbasin. They can float up on the water and then crawl up once they reach solid ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:30px\"><em>This is why roaches are occasionally seen coming up from a drain or catchbasin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roaches are known for their <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/cockroach-life-cycle\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"954\">ability to adapt and survive in a wide range of environmental conditions<\/a>, even when facing harsh conditions, including high heat and low humidity, as well as extreme cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can also tolerate a broad range of acidity levels in their environment, and have a crazy ability to withstand radiation (though <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/can-a-cockroach-survive-a-nuclear-blast\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1051\">not actually a direct nuclear blast<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Structure of Cockroaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cockroaches have an opening called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/spiracle\" rel=\"noopener\">spiracles<\/a> which they use to breathe. They don&#8217;t breathe through their mouths (this is part of why they can survive without a head!) The spiracles can be closed if the roach is submerged in water. They even use the air trapped in their wings to &#8220;breathe&#8221; underwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also have a waxy layer on their wings that allows them to float.  This coating may helps them stay afloat for a few minutes when they fall into the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some roach species can survive for up to 40 minutes when submerged in water, while others perish in a shorter time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Survival Time in the Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some Cockroaches can live in water for up to three weeks, but <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/can-a-cockroach-survive-a-nuclear-blast\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1051\">they will die if the temperature is too cold<\/a> or the humidity is too high. Few of them can hold their breath in water for up to 40 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three species of cockroaches survive in water. These are the Australian, American, and Asian cockroaches that have adapted to their respective regions&#8217; conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The American cockroach has been known to live underwater for as long as fifteen minutes, while a German cockroach can survive underwater for in the range of 40 min. They were both used for experiments on how well they could withstand water exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:30px\"><em>The American cockroach has been known to live underwater for as long as fifteen minutes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Hot Water Kill Cockroaches?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hot water is not an effective way to kill cockroaches. It takes a lot of time and effort to kill roaches with hot water, and the process is not very safe for humans. This is because cockroaches resist heat and cannot be killed with just one hot water application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people think that hot water will kill cockroaches because it is a natural disinfectant. However, this is not true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:30px\"><em>It takes a lot of time and effort to kill roaches with hot water, and the process is not very safe for humans.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hot water cannot kill bacteria or viruses, and it does not have any effect on <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/do-roaches-die-after-they-lay-eggs\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1056\">cockroach eggs<\/a>. A cockroach can survive in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will not live long in these conditions. They have a <a href=\"https:\/\/arrowexterminating.com\/blog\/can-cockroaches-survive-winter-weather\/\" rel=\"noopener\">hard time breeding if the temperature is below 40<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>The maximum temperature for cockroaches is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of Cockroaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many different species of cockroaches around the world. Some species feed on decaying matter, while others feed on living things like plants and animals. There is even a type that feeds on human blood.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cockroaches can be divided into four categories based on their body shape: Blattodea, Blattellidae (cockroach), Entomobrya (cockroach), and Dictyoptera (cockroach). The most common ones are the German cockroach, brown-banded cockroach, and American cockroach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. German Cockroaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The German cockroach is one of North America&#8217;s most common types of roaches. They are known for their long legs and <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/cockroach-antennae\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1079\">antennae that help them to sense their surroundings<\/a> and differentiate between light and dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>German roaches are the quickest to breed, and it&#8217;s common to experience a <a href=\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/why-are-there-suddenly-so-many-cockroaches-in-my-house\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32\">sudden infestation of these beasties<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Brown-Banded Cockroaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Brown-banded roaches are smaller than the German roach, but they can still grow up to two inches long. They have a brown head with a dark stripe on each side of their back. Their bodies also have a light stripe that runs down their backs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. American Cockroaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The American cockroach has a light brown body with a dark brown head in contrast to other types, which have a darker brown body with a lighter head. It has two dark lines on its wings that run from the wingtip to the wingtip, and its antennae are long and thin, with two dark bands on each segment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The American type is the most common in North America and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Oriental Cockroaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The oriental cockroach is a type of roach found in several countries, including Japan, China,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Korea, and Vietnam. The oriental cockroach has two pairs of wings on its back and four legs. It has a long body with an oval-shaped head that is slightly longer than its body. The Oriental cockroach can be found in dark areas such as sewers and old houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Roaches can survive being in water for a long time, and can be submerged for up to 40 minutes. Some species can swim or float to safety. Water isn&#8217;t a good solution to control roaches, and they can even come up through drains and pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve got a roach problem, it&#8217;s best to call a pro and get it taken care of immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cockroaches are among the most resilient, persistent creatures worldwide. They have been around for about 300 million years. They are a type of insect that is typically found in dark, damp places.&nbsp; But can a cockroach swim or survive in water? They can survive in a wide range of environments and even thrive in water [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1187"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1187"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1242,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1187\/revisions\/1242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}