What Do Cockroaches Eat?

Cockroaches are not only a nuisance but these pests can also pose health risks due to their association with unsanitary conditions. Effective pest control measures and maintaining a clean environment are crucial in preventing infestations. Understanding their diverse diet can help in implementing strategies to deny them access to potential food sources and thereby control their populations. Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers, capable of consuming a wide range of organic matter:

Learn more: How Long Can A Cockroach Live Without Food?

Do Cockroaches Eat Human Food?

Cockroaches are opportunistic omnivores and will consume a wide range of human foods, especially anything high in starches, sugars, or fats. They are particularly drawn to foods that are easy to access and leave residues or crumbs. Common human foods that attract cockroaches include:

Starchy foods: Bread, pasta, rice, and cereals, crackers, chips, and cookies, and flour or other baking ingredients left out.
Sugary foods: Candy, chocolate, and sweets, syrups, jams, and honey, and sugary drinks or soda residues.
Protein-rich foods: Meats (cooked or raw), cheese and dairy products, and eggs and leftovers containing animal protein.
Greasy and fatty foods: Oils and butter, fried foods or greasy pizza crusts, sauces and salad dressings
Miscellaneous scraps: Fruit peels and overripe fruit, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds or tea leaves

Cockroaches are also highly attracted to crumbs, spills, and residues—even small amounts can sustain them. They can chew through packaging like cardboard, paper, and thin plastics to reach food, so foods that aren’t properly sealed are particularly vulnerable.

For prevention, storing food in sealed containers, cleaning up crumbs immediately, and eliminating standing liquids can dramatically reduce cockroach attraction.

Do Cockroaches Eat Pet Food?

Cockroaches are highly attracted to pet foods because these foods are typically rich in protein, fats, and carbohydrates, which make them a perfect energy source. Both dry and wet pet foods can serve as a food source for roaches, though wet foods are generally more appealing because of their moisture content:

Dry pet foods (kibble, pellets): Dog and cat kibble (especially high-protein formulas), bird seed and mixes, small animal pellets (hamster, guinea pig, rabbit food), and fish flakes or pellets. Dry foods are particularly susceptible if spilled or left in open bowls overnight. Cockroaches will also chew through the packaging if it’s not sealed properly.
Wet or canned pet foods: Canned cat or dog food, pâté-style foods, stews or meaty blends for pets, and wet bird or small animal foods. The moisture in wet foods makes them especially attractive because cockroaches need water to survive.
Pet food crumbs and residue: Spilled kibble under bowls, bits of dried or wet food stuck to feeding mats or plates, and crumbs left from feeding small pets. Even small amounts can sustain a cockroach infestation.
Treats and snacks: Biscuits or crunchy treats for dogs and cats, chewy meat snacks or jerky-style treats, and nut-based or grain-based small animal treats.

Store pet foods in sealed, rigid containers (metal or thick plastic). Avoid leaving food out overnight; remove uneaten portions promptly. Clean feeding areas regularly to remove crumbs or residues. Consider feeding smaller portions to prevent leftovers that attract pests.

Do Cockroaches Eat Trash?

Cockroaches are scavengers that will consume nearly any organic matter they can access, and trash is one of their primary food sources. They are especially attracted to items that are moist, decomposing, or contain food residues. Here are some of the types of trash that most commonly attract cockroaches:

Food scraps and leftovers: Uneaten meals (meat, pasta, rice, vegetables), fruit and vegetable peels or cores, spoiled or overripe foods, and fatty residues from takeout containers, pizza boxes, or fast-food wrappers
Greasy or oily trash: Used cooking oils, butter wrappers, or fried food scraps, pizza boxes with grease stains, and packaging from snacks like chips or crackers.
Sweet residues: Candy wrappers with sticky remnants, soda cans, juice cartons, or sugary drink bottles with leftover liquid, and dessert wrappers or cake remnants.
Paper and cardboard with food traces: Cardboard food boxes or cartons that have crumbs or grease, paper bags from bakeries, grocery stores, or fast food, and pizza boxes or sandwich wrappers that are not completely clean.
Organic and biodegradable waste: Coffee grounds, tea leaves, eggshells, nutshells, seed hulls, and compostable food waste (if left uncovered).
Pet-related trash: Used pet food bags, crumbs or residue from pet feeding areas, and spoiled or leftover wet pet food.
Miscellaneous household trash: Small bits of soap, toothpaste, or other organic residues in the trash, hair or fingernail clippings, and any decaying organic matter.

Cockroaches are highly opportunistic, so even small amounts of non-food residue in a trash can sustain an infestation.

Do Cockroaches Eat Ants?

Yes, cockroaches can eat ants, but it’s relatively uncommon and situational. Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers—they primarily seek out decaying organic matter, human food, pet food, and garbage—but they will opportunistically prey on small insects, including ants, if the opportunity arises:

Opportunistic predation: Cockroaches will eat ants if they find dead ones or ant larvae in a vulnerable spot. Some larger cockroach species may attack live ants if they are small enough to subdue. This behavior is more likely in resource-scarce environments where other food sources are limited.
Scavenging behavior: Cockroaches rarely actively hunt ants; they mostly consume ants that are already dead or injured. They are more attracted to ants indirectly, by feeding on food sources ants have already accessed, such as spilled sugar, crumbs, or other organic matter.
Nutritional benefit: Ants provide protein and can be a supplemental food source. Cockroaches’ preference is still skewed toward foods that are easier to digest and more abundant, like human food, grease, or trash.

Cockroaches can eat ants but generally prefer easier, more abundant sources. Predation on ants is opportunistic rather than a primary feeding behavior.

Do Cockroaches Eat Bed Bugs?

Yes, some cockroaches can eat bed bugs, though this behavior is opportunistic and not a primary food source. Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers, and their diet is extremely flexible—they will consume almost anything organic, including other insects:

Opportunistic predation: Cockroaches will eat dead or injured bed bugs if they come across them. Larger cockroach species, like the American cockroach or smokybrown cockroach, may attack immobile or vulnerable live bed bugs, especially if food is scarce. Smaller cockroach species are less likely to prey on live bed bugs due to size limitations.
Scavenging behavior: Bed bugs hiding in cracks, mattresses, or furniture may occasionally be eaten if a cockroach discovers them while scavenging. Cockroaches do not actively hunt bed bugs; they mainly consume them when they overlap in hiding spaces and other preferred foods are limited.
Nutritional aspect: Bed bugs are high in protein and can supplement a cockroach’s diet. Cockroaches still prefer easier, more abundant sources like crumbs, grease, human food, pet food, and organic trash.
Real-world relevance: While cockroaches can eat bed bugs, they are not a reliable control method for bed bug infestations. Both pests often coexist in the same environments, especially in cluttered or unclean spaces.

Cockroaches may eat bed bugs, particularly dead or vulnerable ones, but it’s opportunistic scavenging rather than deliberate predation.

Do Cockroaches Eat Other Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are cannibalistic under certain conditions, but it’s generally opportunistic rather than a primary feeding behavior. They prefer more accessible organic matter like human food, garbage, or pet food, but certain circumstances can push cockroaches to eat other cockroaches:

Scarcity of food: When food sources are limited or unavailable, cockroaches may turn to conspecifics (other cockroaches) for sustenance. Starvation increases cannibalistic behavior, especially in nymphs (immature cockroaches), which have higher nutrient requirements for growth.
Presence of dead or weakened cockroaches: Cockroaches readily scavenge dead, dying, or injured individuals. This is one of the most common situations; they do not need to actively kill another cockroach to feed on it. Dead cockroaches provide protein and moisture in environments where other food sources are scarce.
Crowded or high-density conditions: In confined spaces with many cockroaches, stress and competition for limited resources can increase cannibalism. High population density can also lead to injuries, which provide feeding opportunities.
Moulting nymphs: Cockroach nymphs are vulnerable during moulting. Other cockroaches may feed on these soft-bodied individuals if they are accessible, as they are easier to consume than fully hardened adults.
Nutritional deficiency: Lack of certain nutrients, particularly protein, can push cockroaches to cannibalism. Even in environments with some food, if the diet is primarily starch or sugar-heavy and low in protein, cannibalistic tendencies may increase.
Species differences: Larger species (e.g., American cockroaches, Smokybrown cockroaches) are more capable of preying on smaller or weaker conspecifics. Smaller species or those with more dispersed populations rarely exhibit cannibalism unless starvation is severe.

Cockroaches are most likely to eat other cockroaches when food is scarce, dead or weakened individuals are available, populations are crowded, nymphs are moulting, or there’s a protein deficiency. Active killing of healthy adults is uncommon; cannibalism is mostly scavenging.

Do Cockroaches Eat Spiders?

Yes, cockroaches can eat spiders, but this behavior is highly opportunistic and not a primary feeding strategy. Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers—they will consume almost any organic matter they can access, including other insects or arachnids, but they generally prefer easier, more abundant sources of food like human food, garbage, and pet food. Here is when and how cockroaches might eat spiders:

Opportunistic scavenging: Cockroaches are more likely to consume dead or immobilized spiders rather than actively hunting healthy ones. A spider trapped in a corner, caught in debris, or stuck in a web may be eaten by a nearby cockroach.
Scarcity of food: In environments where other food sources are limited, cockroaches may resort to eating spiders or other small arthropods. Protein from spiders can supplement a cockroach’s diet, but it’s not their preferred food.
Size and vulnerability: Small cockroach species may only feed on tiny spiders or spiderlings. Larger cockroaches, like the American cockroach, can handle slightly larger or weakened spiders.
Nutritional motivation: Protein-rich prey like spiders can be attractive if cockroaches are experiencing protein deficiency, especially during nymphal growth stages.
Predatory limitations: Cockroaches are not active hunters of agile or defensive spiders. Most spiders can evade or deter cockroach attacks unless they are already immobilized.

Cockroaches will eat spiders, particularly if the spider is dead, injured, or otherwise immobile, and if other food sources are limited. Healthy, mobile spiders are usually avoided because the effort and risk outweigh the nutritional benefit.

Do Cockroaches Eat Clothes?

Yes, certain cockroaches can and do eat clothes, though this behavior depends largely on the type of material and whether it contains organic matter. They are primarily attracted to natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, which contain proteins that cockroaches can digest. Clothing made from blended natural fibers is also susceptible. Cockroaches are especially drawn to soiled or stained clothing, as food residues, sweat, or grease provide both nutrients and moisture, making the fabric much more appealing. Items stored in dark, warm, and humid areas—such as basements, attics, closets, or under beds—are at higher risk, particularly when in contact with cardboard boxes, paper, or other organic matter. Damage caused by cockroaches usually appears as small holes along seams or edges, and is more common in older garments that haven’t been moved or washed for long periods. To prevent infestations, clothes should be washed and thoroughly dried before storage and kept in sealed containers rather than cardboard boxes, while avoiding damp or dark areas and regularly inspecting long-stored items. In general, cockroaches do not eat all clothing indiscriminately; they primarily target natural fibers, especially if soiled or damp, while synthetic fabrics are rarely affected unless contaminated.

Do Cockroaches Eat Paper?

Yes, cockroaches can and do eat paper, although their interest depends on the type of paper and whether it contains organic matter. They are primarily attracted to paper that has starch, glue, or food residues, which provide nutrients they can digest. Common examples include cardboard boxes, book bindings, wallpaper, paper packaging, newspapers, and magazines, especially if the paper has been in contact with food or moisture.

Cockroaches are not drawn to clean, smooth paper as much as they are to materials that contain organic adhesives or coatings, such as the glue in book spines or the starch used in cardboard manufacturing. Moisture enhances the attractiveness, so paper stored in damp areas, basements, or near sinks and leaks is more likely to be damaged. Chewed paper often appears as ragged edges, small holes, or irregular thinning, and infestations are more common in older or forgotten items that remain in dark, warm environments.

To prevent damage, paper should be stored in sealed plastic containers or metal cabinets, kept away from moisture, and regularly inspected. While cockroaches prefer more nutrient-rich food sources, paper can serve as a supplemental food source, particularly when other options are scarce.

Do Cockroaches Eat Cardboard?

Yes, cockroaches readily eat cardboard, and it is one of the materials they are particularly drawn to. Cardboard is made from cellulose, which cockroaches can digest, and it often contains starch, glue, or other organic additives that provide additional nutrients. Corrugated cardboard, boxes, packaging materials, and shipping cartons are especially vulnerable, particularly if they have food residues, grease stains, or have absorbed moisture.

Cardboard stored in dark, warm, or humid areas, such as basements, closets, garages, or under sinks, is more likely to be attacked. Signs of feeding include ragged edges, small holes, and weakened structural areas. Cockroaches may chew through cardboard to access food stored inside or simply consume the cardboard itself as a supplemental food source when other nutrients are limited.

To prevent infestations, cardboard should be stored off the ground, kept dry, and replaced with sealed plastic or metal containers when possible. Any cardboard with food residue should be discarded promptly. While cockroaches prefer richer food sources like human food, garbage, and pet food, cardboard provides both nutrition and a convenient habitat, making it a common target in homes and storage areas.

Do Cockroaches Eat Wood?

Yes, cockroaches can eat wood, although they generally prefer softer, decaying, or fungus-infested wood rather than fresh, hard timber. They are attracted to wood that contains cellulose—a carbohydrate they can digest—with higher interest in pieces that are moist, damp, or partially rotting. Softwoods, plywood, particleboard, and wooden furniture that has absorbed moisture or been exposed to food residues are more likely to be affected.

Cockroaches are not as aggressive in eating wood as termites, but they may gnaw on wooden structures, baseboards, or furniture to access nutrients or shelter. They are especially attracted to wood that has fungal growth or mold, as this adds additional protein and moisture, making it more palatable. Signs of feeding include small, irregular chew marks, weakened edges, and sometimes fine sawdust-like residue in hidden corners.

To reduce risk, wood should be kept dry, sealed, and free from mold, and any damp or decaying pieces should be removed promptly. While cockroaches generally prefer richer food sources like human food, garbage, cardboard, or fabrics, wood can serve as a supplemental food source and a hiding spot, especially in neglected or damp areas of a building.

Do Cockroaches Drink Water?

Cockroaches require relatively little water to survive, but it is essential for their metabolism, reproduction, and overall survival. While they can live for up to a month without food, they generally survive only about a week without access to water. They obtain moisture from several sources, including liquid water from puddles, leaky pipes, condensation, or pet water bowls; from moist foods such as fruits, vegetables, wet pet food, and greasy residues; and from metabolic water produced internally when breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Species differences play a role in water needs: for example, German cockroaches require more frequent access to water and prefer high-humidity environments, while American cockroaches are slightly more resilient in drier conditions but still favor moist habitats. Environmental factors also influence survival, as humid and warm conditions reduce water stress, allowing cockroaches to thrive even with minimal direct water, whereas dry environments push them to seek out condensation, leaks, or food with higher moisture content.

Continuous access to moisture enables cockroaches to live longer, reproduce more effectively, and remain more active, making the prevention of water access—by fixing leaks, wiping up condensation, and eliminating standing water—an important strategy in controlling infestations.