Can Cockroaches Fly ?

Cockroaches are common insects that you will definitely find in any household. If you have a house, you will probably find them inside your kitchen, near the garbage area, or quite likely in your bathroom area as well.

Yeah, clean up all you want, do some cockroaches pest control, pay an exterminator to exterminate cockroaches inside your house, but chances are, you will still see one or two of them scurrying around your house. These little buggers are pretty hard to get rid of.

Seeing them running around your house is one thing. However, seeing them flying around your house is an entirely different matter.

So, Can Cockroaches Fly?

Some of them do, some of them don’t. Really, it depends on the species of the cockroach. The good news is, in general, majority of the cockroach species cannot fly. The bad news, however is that, there are several common ones that do, so you will likely meet some of these flying buggers somewhere inside your house.

Can Cockroaches Fly With Their Wings?

Yes, cockroaches that are able to fly utilizes their wings to fly around to reach their destination. However, even if a cockroach could fly, some of them may prefer to scurry around instead when threatened.

Not all cockroaches could use their wings to fly though. This usually due to the wings of the cockroach being too narrow, too short or simply too under developed to allow flight. Sometimes, it is simply due to the size of the cockroach, as the ones with more weight tends to have problems trying to fly.

When Can Cockroaches Fly?

For the species of cockroaches that can fly, they usually are able to fly when their wings are fully matured. This means when they have reached the adult stage. So there is no need to worry about seeing hundreds of small cockroaches flying around if you are unlucky enough to be infested by a family of cockroaches.

Why Would Cockroaches Fly?

Just like why a cockroach would scurry from one place to another, a cockroach would fly when they are looking for a new food source, better environment (for them) or simply when there are something that attracts them, such as light (yes, some cockroaches are attracted to light) and the only or the easiest way to get them is by flying through the windows of your house.

How Do I Know If The Cockroaches I’m Seeing Can Fly Or Not?

In general, to determine whether the cockroaches you are seeing can fly or not, simply look at its wings. If the wings are small or narrow, chances are the will not be able to fly. The bigger cockroaches in general cannot fly as well.

If you are brave, then simply chase after them until the corners of your house. Then you can determine whether they will fly or not.

Which Species Of Cockroaches Can Fly?

There are approximately four thousand species of cockroaches, and out of them, there are several hundreds of species that could fly. Breaking down each species would be a pretty daunting task. However, I’ll simply list down four of the most common cockroaches that you may find inside or around your house.

Be prepared for pictures.

This is a german cockroach.

Notice that these bad boys have narrow wings. Hence, these little guys cannot fly.

Now this, my friend, is an Oriental cockroach.

If your house have this kind of cockroach, be thankful that these guys cannot fly as well.

This big guy here is an American Cockroach.

Not really sure why it’s called American Cockroach though.

Anyways, these guys can fly. Actually, not flying, more like gliding. These guys will usually climb on top of trees and glide their way into houses or any other places that they want.

The last cockroach is the Asian Cockroach.

It looks quite similar to the German Cockroach. However, these guys can fly around. So, if you see these little buggers, do not go after them, they’ll just fly in front of your face and make you scream like a little girl.

If you think none of these cockroaches look familiar, then simply look at its wings. Usually the ones with narrow wings cannot fly.

Alright folks that’s all!