How long do cockroaches live? Cockroaches are one of the most common types of pests throughout the world. They love to eat whatever they can find and have no problem eating human food or rooting through garbage piles and cans to find something to snack on. Roaches are also clever enough to get inside a home or building through even the tiniest opening, where they quickly start reproducing at an alarming rate, leading to a cockroach infestation in a matter of weeks. But, how long do cockroaches live?
If one cockroach gets inside, how long will it live within your home?
Cockroach lifespan
On average, an American cockroach will live about one year. It will be able to reproduce, create more eggs and generate more and more cockroaches to infest whatever structure they are in. As long as there is shelter and food, cockroaches can comfortably live in a home or business for years, creating massive infestations.
There are a lot of things which can determine the lifespan of a cockroach, including:
- Breed – Different species of cockroach live in different environments and have different lifespans.
- Diet – What cockroaches feed upon can determine the lifespan of the average cockroach.
- Environment – Cockroaches are adaptable, but not indestructible. They need a favorable environment to reproduce. This includes the right temperatures and easy access to food. Cockroaches live where they can hide and thrive in homes and businesses where they can keep hidden away from people.