Cockroaches drink water because they need to stay hydrated and they cannot live without it for a week. However, they can only take water at room temperature. Since they are cold-blooded, roaches cannot take cold water that is below 50°F. They will also avoid it when it is heated above 80°F.
When thirsty, roaches prefer drinking water that is between 59°F and 75°F. Consuming cool water makes them feel extra cold yet they need to stay warm for survival. They also avoid hot water because it burns their sensitive and weak mouthparts on contact.
Cockroaches can die from dehydration if they do not find water. They have to live in moist environments. When outdoors, they hide under thick vegetation or leaves. If they come into your home, they will go for moist areas I.e. under the sink, drains, and sewers.
How do cockroaches drink water
Cockroaches drink water through their mouth by lapping on it. They have an upper lip which is known as the labrum. Once they find water, roaches spread their mandibles so that the labrum can get to it. Their mouths are designed to bite and chew so they have to lap water in small quantities in order to drink.
Their mouthparts are well built to tear through hard and soft meals. Roaches are very poor at taking liquids. They do so by leaking and this takes a lot of time before they get satisfied. They can naturally control water loss from their bodies. This is what keeps them hydrated for long.
They also hide in moist environments since it is the only way that will keep them from drinking water all the time. Cockroaches rarely drink water and they will only do so if they are extremely exposed to hot temperatures. They only need to take water like once or twice a week and this is enough for them to survive.
The reason for taking water in small bits is that roaches have several mouthparts without a tongue. This makes it difficult for them to leak in large quantities. They have to crawl to it and ensure that their mouth is in contact with water.
How long will roaches live without water
Cockroaches can live for 7-14 days if there is no water. However, this depends on the species and environment that they live in. Those that live in arid climates stay longer without water when compared to those that live in semi-arid areas.
When living in dry areas, roaches have a way of closing the tiny holes on their abdomen to avoid water loss. This contributes to their survival rate since lack of water can kill them very fast. Those bugs are extra smart when it comes to survival and this is why they are among the leading pests in terms of population.
The same aspect explains why roaches hate air conditioning when it is regulated to remove moisture at home. They feel dehydrated and this will force them to find other areas that are moist. Dehydration will also make them consume water more often to increase their life span.
Cockroaches will day after 3-4 days in a hot environment where there low humidity levels without water. How long they live without water directly depends on the moisture and temperatures of their environments.
Large roaches will die faster without water as compared to small ones. Age also dictates their survival chances if there is no water. Old roaches cannot stay for long as compared to baby roaches. As they grow old, roaches become less active and spend most of their time in their hideouts.
Cockroaches attracted to water
All roaches need water and they will always live and breed near a constant supply of water. When indoors, they prefer hiding in sinks and drains since there is always water flushed down. However, soapy water is toxic to roaches thus they tend to avoid bathroom drains.
Hot water from your long shower combined with soap or strong shampoos can easily wash and kill roaches. However, they must be in contact with it and they will only die if they are drowned. In most cases, roaches are not easily downed because they are light and can easily float.
Roaches like water because they need to remain moist and hydrated. Water under the sink or kitchen drainage evaporates at some point. This keeps the environment around those areas moist and dump.
Those bugs do not need their heads to breathe meaning that they can survive in extremely stuffy conditions. However, female roaches are attracted to water more than male ones when they are about to lay eggs. The need to find moist environments is important for their young ones once they are hatched.
If you see roaches on your toothbrush, they are simply sipping the water drops on it that were not dried. They can also feed on the paste that is mixed with water if you do not clean properly after use.
Roaches in water tanks
Cockroach in live-in water tanks because it is always dark and moist. This keeps them alive as long as they do not fall into the water. If they happen to fall in it, they will stay floating since they are light. Survival chances are high because eventually, they are easily pushed by the tides to the walls.
Once they get to the edge, they can climb out and crawl away. Roaches also have an ability to stay without breathing and that’s how they buy time if they drop in water. They are naturally dirty and good measures should always be put in place to keep them from water tanks.
Water tanks should be inspected regularly since stagnant water can attract lots of other pests. All those come to drink and live in there. However, roaches cannot live on water alone and need food to stay alive. They have to crawl out at some point to find food and if that is not available, they will eventually leave.
How long roaches stay in a water tank depends on the availability of food sources. If the tank is near a garbage pit or a garden, then they have a sure meal around. Tanks should be placed high with closed lids to keep bugs out of it since they will not hustle all the way up to get water.
The nature of a cockroach’s mouthparts makes it difficult for them to sip. Despite the challenge, they have to find a way of doing it. Here is a video of how they do drink: