Cockroaches can bite people but it is rare. German cockroaches are the most likely to bite, probably because they are often responsible for large infestations. Cockroaches bite sleeping humans because they are looking for food. Sometimes a cockroach will sense a small amount of food on the mouth or fingers of a person and they will accidentally bite while they are eating. This only happens when there is no other easier food source available. Cockroaches will also sometimes risk crawling over a sleeping person to get to moisture built up around the eyes or the nose. The cockroach needs water to survive and if it can't find water anywhere else it might have to get it from you.
Children are the most susceptible to cockroach bits because they have softer skin that is easier for the cockroach's mouthparts to penetrate. Also, children
are more likely to leave crumbs on their fingers or around their mouths because they don't always have the best hygienic practices. Telling a youngster that they better wash their face and hands and brush their teeth after dinner might be communicated more effectively if you added that if they failed to do so they might have cockroaches nibbling on their fingers and toes.
Cockroaches only bite when there are very large populations and little food and water available. If the cockroach can find food or water somewhere else then they won't risk getting it from something that can smack them dead faster than you can say, “Gross, there is a cockroach on my arm!” Overall, the chances of getting bitten by a cockroach are extremely small and I have never heard of a person getting bitten by a cockroach while they were awake. This could probably only happen if you picked a cockroach up and it bit because it felt threatened. Most people don't have this type of contact with cockroaches.
Cockroach bites look similar to other insect bites. The bite can be itchy, as well. Bites are small red marks that often scab over. Cockroach bites can become infected and might be likely to do so because cockroaches are so often exposed to sewage and other materials that are full of bacteria. Apply disinfectant to any cockroach bite and if swelling from the bite does not recede after a few days then you might want to get it checked out by a doctor.
Comments
alianah
15 Aug 2009, 15:43
uhhh,i just wanted to ask if cock roaches,or roaches bite,cause ihave seen
some in my house ,and i have a bump bed,and it's made out of wood,and my
mom say's they are on my bed because they are attracted to wood,and i read
the information,and im even scared to sleep on my bed because of the
roaches,i have seen some on my bed,well they was on the wood part of my
bed,and i have seen some come out of my thing where i put my clothes in,and
i wanted to ask something....How do i get rid of them,and what do i
use?,please give me information,cause i hate to see them on y bed and every
wher.
Fran
22 Aug 2009, 18:36
My children and myself are currently living in a shelter and for the first
time in our lives also live with roaches. We have noticed on several
occasions little bubble like bumps that hurt when messed with. Are these
things roach bites and what can we do to minimize these unwanted bugs?
Tassie
26 Aug 2009, 03:51
I recently moved into a new apt and have seen up to 6 cockroaches inside
and in daylight. My landlord says he sprayed 2 times before we moved in but
we continue to see these German cockroaches. I have 2 bitemarks, one on my
knee and one on my stomach. They appeared after sleeping. We dont have bed
bugs, could it be from the cockroaches? We have seen 2 on our bed. We check
it every night before sleeping now and put tissue in our ears. How can we
get rid of them? I have a box of Borax but dont know what to do with it
exactly. We are afraid of moving as we might just bring them with us.
eeveretts@bellsouth.net
03 Sep 2009, 23:15
MY BROTHER HAS CANCER. HE HAS RED BUMPS/KNOTS ON HIS BACK. SOME LOOK
INFECTED. HIS HOME IS INFESTED WITH THE SMALLER TYPE OF ROACHES. THEY
CRAWL ALL OVER EVERYTHING. ON ME, ON HIM, BEDS, EVERYWHERE. I NEED TO
KNOW WHAT THEIR BITES LOOK LIKE. PLEASE HELP ME.
anonymous
11 Sep 2009, 20:24
i just had to get on here to let my boyfriend know that cockroaches do
bite
allyson
21 Sep 2009, 15:04
We moved into a house that has a bad cockroach infestation...from what I
can tell it looks like there are more than one kind. Some of them are the
lighter reddish brown colored ones, and some are a little shorter, and dark
brown. When we first moved in, the landlord recommended we use boric acid.
My husband sprinkled that stuff all over the place and it seemed to
supercharge them. We have tried all kind of baits, sprays, even the little
round discs. We keep our house neat and clean. Nothing we do seems to get
rid of them, and now since we have had our little girl home...I keep
noticing small red bumps on her face, sometimes around her neck and
shoulders. I know that the roaches are biting her and it is freaking me
out and making me feel ill. How can we get rid of these things and protect
our baby from their bites????
Trevor
22 Sep 2009, 12:36
I saw what looked like a cockroach on my ceiling. I went to hit it with a
broom and it just vanished. What kind of cockroach is this??? i need to
know very soon
Stacia
14 Oct 2009, 06:36
I was lying in bed, half asleep. I felt nothing on me, when my phone rang.
I raised my head from my pillow slightly and laid back down when I felt
what I thought was lint snagging a mole on my shoulder. I saw what looked
like a roach leg on my pillow where my shoulder was and found the rest of
him under my pillow. I went to sleep and eight hours later my shoulder was
swollen the size of a golf ball and my chest area near my armpit was too.
I can't lay on it, raise my arm, wear a bra or scratch my other arm and
wearing sleeves irritates it as well as wearing my hair down. I thought I
had gotten bit by a spider. WTF???
no one
28 Oct 2009, 02:40
Hi I live in FL and roaches are common in houses what we do down here is
Shower Powder and or Baking Soda I find the Shower Powder works better and
smells better it has Baking Soda in it and Lavondor in it as well which is
a natural bug killer I put it all over the floor tile and carpet let it set
do not suck it up with a vac I also will put a little in the air filter of
my home and turn on the air so the vents get full of it but dont use to
much you dont wanna mess up the ac I havent seen one after that in awhile
but do keep in mind here in FL we will always have cockroaches they will be
back but not for long because I will do it again I do this about every 3
months and see dead ones everywhere after words so good lucks with using
little tricks of the south my friends
SHERRY
08 Nov 2009, 12:04
My husband and I are getting bit at night. I have spayed the bed,and
floor.It did not help.We can't find what is bitting us.WE do have roaches
Because we eat in our bed. what else can we do to get rid of what ever is
bitting us.
morgan and lily
25 Nov 2009, 12:28
we can't believe that they real do bite.
Jun Borja
29 Nov 2009, 00:21
I've been bitten by a cockroach on my right butt a year ago and up to this
time the bitten area was still little bit swollen and black in color and
sometimes feel itchy?
Anelida Caldero
29 Nov 2009, 09:40
A roach bite me last night.. I was shocked couldn't sleep either. Two days
ago I super cleaned kitchen of the house where I thought they were mostly
located and then sprayed roach killer all over. Can this be a possible
reason why I found a roach in my room?? Can animals like cats and dogs in
the house be a reason roaches appear?
random
03 Dec 2009, 01:07
ewww....last week I came home and was bite by something, it was itchy and
red. The following week I got another insect bite on my butt!!! it tripped
me out because the infestation in this house is pretty bad, but i never
figured they actually bite people, i thought it was a spider bite, but
lately I've seen them in the bed.. ORKIN HERE I COME!!!!
Sad but true..
11 Jan 2010, 09:36
Hey Guys,
I think I know what is going on here..
Thank you so much for the information, I think I need to get one of those
"Bug Nets" for my bed:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Mombasa-Ivory-Adult-Mosquito-Net-Canop
y/2387004/product.html
I have bites EVERYWHERE that is exposed when I sleep. Those @$$! roaches
are EVERYWHERE in this cheap apartment building. Now when I move again,
all my stuff will be infested.
When I use the sink, if little bubbles of water are left on the counter,
then run out an gobble up the droplets. They are crazy thirsty. I am
guessing they are biting me to get blood-water.
If the net doesn't work, then maybe I'll leave out water in a dish as a
peace offering. I can't believe I have to bargain with these disgusting
creatures.
meaghan
11 Jan 2010, 21:36
Boric acid is incredibly effective. The best way to use it is to sprinkle
it around the fridge, stove, washer and dryer, sinks, and anywhere you see
exposed pipes or drains. They love warm, moist environments, so pipes and
appliance motors are prime real estate for the little buggers. I also
sprinkled it in front of the doors that lead outside and in a crack in the
cement of my driveway where I have seen some hanging out.
Boric acid alone will not do the job. You must also was your dishes after
eating (or leave them to soak in soapy water), vacuum up crumbs from
carpets and couches or anywhere you eat, take out your trash at night and
bleach the can, thorougly clean kitchen counters microwaves refrigerators
and ovens, fix leaks, seal food containers...DON'T give them food or water
sources.
Cockroach infestations easily get out of control, because they reproduce
quickly and in great number and are SO difficult to kill. If you see one,
there are probably 100s you don't see. The best thing to do is KILL the
cockroach...don't put it outside thinking you are doing the both of you a
favor...it'll come back. These creatures wouldn't be so horrible if they
didn't carry all sorts of bacteria. You can contract salmonella and other
infections from cockroaches.
If the infestation is out of control, contact an exterminator who will do
more than just spray or bomb. Hire someone who will get into every nook and
cranny with special vacuums, gels, and caulk.
Now GO and get rid of the little buttholes.
tim
04 Feb 2010, 02:51
i read the story when the exterminator says roaches bit while asleep which
is very true they bite me often,but he says they he dont know of them
biting someone awake,well i know for a fact they do bite while awake,i sit
in the floor on my computer relaxed and all of a sudden a dam roach bites
me and i feel the little sting,so no matter if your awake or asleep they do
bite when your sitting still relaxed.
no one
14 Feb 2010, 12:35
i just came to see did roaches bite because i didnt believe my mom when she
told me they did bite people.
tim
17 Feb 2010, 19:13
FOR SURE THEY DO BITE IF YOUR ASLEEP AND IF YOUR AWAKE SITTING STILL IN
THE DARK OR WITH LIGHT ON THEYS TILL BITE,ROACHES ARE BECOMING MORE AND
MORE FEARLESS.
