Cockroaches are everywhere and are known to be indestructible. For example, many believe they will survive an apocalypse or a nuclear explosion.
However, suppose you’ve got a child who happened to squash a roach or just found yourself curious about these nearly indestructible bugs. Although, in that case, you may have pondered, “Just how long can a roach live without its head?” The answer to that question is about two weeks, although the reason why might astound you.
This article will discuss how long roaches can live without their heads and what there is to know. If you love studying insects or are genuinely curious, this article is for you, and we highly encourage you to continue reading for more information!
Do Headless Cockroaches Bleed to Death?
No, headless cockroaches do not bleed to death. This is because roaches do not have blood pressure, at least not like humans. As such, when they are wounded, lose limbs, or incur other injuries, they do not bleed. Blood pulsing through their veins is non-existent, partially due to their open circulatory system.
Do Headless Cockroaches Suffocate?
No, headless cockroaches do not suffocate. Roaches have an open circulatory system, meaning they get their air directly from their body. It isn’t limited to intake from the nose and nostrils leading to the lungs as we do. So when a cockroach loses its head, it won’t die from a lack of oxygen.
This is both fantastic and horrifying when you take it into deeper consideration that a whole cockroach infestation can take place in your home, and beheading them isn’t enough to stop them immediately.
Can Headless Cockroaches Go By Without a Brain?
No, headless cockroaches cannot go by without a brain. However, in basic anatomy, we understand that the brain is “usually” located in the head, but roaches are unique in all aspects. They technically have two brains:
- One is located in their skull
- The other is towards the back of their abdomen
However, the second one is more basic and caters to more animalistic or primal needs, assuming the head has been damaged, but it has uses besides this.
A headless cockroach can survive for up to two weeks, and this remains true of all cockroach species, so losing a body segment or two does little to dampen this insect’s life. Furthermore, even crushing the bugs does little to harm them, as their spiracles pipe air directly into their bodies, regardless of the damage they sustain!
Can Headless Cockroaches Eat Food or Drink Water?
No, a headless cockroach cannot eat food or drink water. This is because a headless cockroach lacks the mouth to drink water and eat food. As such, the creature will starve to death as there is nothing to get essential nutrients and hydration to the cockroach’s body. This gives it considerable time to finish any last deeds, unlike humans, who will pass within minutes if sustaining similar injuries.
Do Cockroaches’ Heads Grow Back?
No, cockroaches’ heads do not grow back despite them being one of the most adaptable creatures on the planet. Once it is lost, it will never come back.
That being said, while the bug is young, it can fully regenerate lost limbs within the first two years of its life, which is incredible. However, this process is rather taxing and will require all the nutrients the bug can get within the days following these losses.
Can Cockroaches Live Without Heads for 7 Days?
Yes, cockroaches can live without heads for 7 days or longer. However, starvation or dehydration is the biggest contributing factor to a roach’s “true” death. Lack of water is the most pressing concern, as the bugs are highly reliant on keeping themselves hydrated, and a decapitated roach has few options regarding food intake.
How Long Can a Roach Live In Your Room?
A roach can live in your room for its entire lifetime, which could be up to two years. So, for example, if you don’t purposely kill it or go out of your way to harm it, you can capture a cockroach and have it inhabit your room for an entire life cycle.
Of course, the exact time frame depends on the species of roach. However, if you had an American cockroach, for example, it could be expected to live from egg to dying of old age within two years.
Do Roaches Notice Dead Roaches?
Yes, roaches do notice dead roaches, with certain species even emitting unique scents and pheromones to alert others of their untimely demise, warning them to stay away from the area in a last-ditch effort to preserve others of its species. Alternatively, roaches will even cannibalize their fallen brothers in desperate times, so the passing of other roaches is noted.
Final Thoughts
Roaches without heads can survive between four days to two weeks under exceptional circumstances. Still, instead of attempting to behead every roach in your home, you’d be better off contacting a pest control professional if your goal is to eliminate the pests. It’s also not recommended to decapitate these bugs personally as they are filthy and direct exposure can get you sick.
