This article seeks to answer whether cockroaches do bite human, other than spreading disease and bacteria, can cockroaches hurt you? How do cockroach bites look like? And how to treat a bite wound by cockroach.
Ever almost stepped onto a cockroach while they scurry around the house or outside? Ever wondered whether cockroach actually bites human?
Read on to find out!
Do Cockroaches Bite?
Cockroaches do bite, though it is highly unlikely for cockroaches to bite humans.
These are usually the part of the body that roaches bite occur (usually where there’s food residue):
- Eyelashes
- Mouth
- Hands
- Fingers (fingernails)
- Leg
- Toe
[May: Though very uncommon, cockroaches do bite the eyelid when aiming at the eyelashes. Usually happen children sleeping on the floor or get into confined areas where roaches are hiding.]
>> Also see article: Top Pet Safe Roach Killer & Repellent
Why & When Do Roaches Bite People?
When roaches bite, it is usually when they are looking for food and your body might have the scent of food that attracts them to take a bite to taste, or in more extreme case where they have grown so large in number that they have to search beyond the normal food source.
Side note – roaches only feed on the human eyelashes, fingernails and callused skin if they even want to.
Cockroaches are timid pests which explains why cockroach bites are usually discovered in the morning where the bite takes place at night during our sleep (similar to bed bug bites).
Do Cockroach Bites Itch or Hurt?
Cockroach bites generally feels more a pinch where that slight pain quickly fades off within a few seconds before it slowly starts to itch (similar to a mosquito bite where the itch comes later).
Unlike mosquitoes, cockroaches don’t inject it’s saliva when they bite, but they are usually dirty and carry with them plenty of bacteria which can result in swelling and itchiness around the circumference of the bite.
Fun fact – Despite its small size, cockroaches can exert a bite with 50 times of force stronger than their body weight. That explains why they are able to bite and chew through hard items like the hardwood.
What Do Roach Bites Look Like?
Roach bites on humans look similar to the mosquito bites, but are usually larger in size. In a few rare cases, there might also be clusters of bumps (similar to a bed bug attack).
People with sensitive skin might experience a stronger reaction where the bites might experience swelling and are larger in size. They might also experience rashes which results in red and bumpy skin.
>> See article: Best Roach Fogger
How Long Does a Roach Bite Last?
Depending on the type of cockroach, the body part that was bitten as well as whether the wound gets any infection from bacterial, the bite from a cockroach can take a few hours up to a couple of weeks to go heal on its own (similar to bites from other pests).
Do Roach Bites Carry Diseases?
Cockroach bites don’t actually transmit diseases (unlike other pests), but might pass on the disease bacteria and germs on their bodies and waste matter through the roach bite wounds. Kids and children might lick their wound and in turn ingest the bacteria.
>> See article: 23 Fascinating and Creepy Cockroach Facts
Treating Cockroach Bites
It is important to clean and disinfect the affected area once the bites are discovered to prevent the possibility of getting an infection. Wash the bitten area with soap and water, and disinfect area by rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball or pad (see below for more ways to clean and disinfect).
Do not rinse off alcohol for at least 10 to 15 mins. Also avoid touching wound to prevent infection or further inflammation. Monitor the wound and if you can see signs of infection like observing pus formation or discolouration, consult a doctor immediately.
Final Thoughts
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
The best ways to ensure that you and your family never get any cockroach bites is to simply deter and eliminate them from your house. If you are facing roach issues at home, be sure to check out our other articles to help you out.
Here’s a few to begin:
Have you ever had the experience of being bitten by a cockroach? What happened and how did you deal with it? Leave a comment to share with us.