Can Roaches Eat Wood? The Real Reason You Find Them There

Cockroaches are resilient creatures often found in residential and commercial spaces. A common misconception is that these insects consume wood, similar to termites, especially when observed near wooden structures. However, cockroaches generally do not eat solid wood as a primary food source. Understanding their true dietary needs and behaviors clarifies why they might be found in such locations.

Dispelling the Wood-Eating Myth

Cockroaches do not primarily eat solid wood, unlike termites or carpenter ants. Their mouthparts are designed for chewing and scavenging softer organic materials, not for breaking down dense wood fibers. Termites possess specialized digestive systems with symbiotic microorganisms that break down cellulose, the main component of wood. Cockroaches lack this internal machinery for efficient wood digestion.

While “wood cockroaches” (e.g., Pennsylvania wood cockroach) exist, they typically feed on decaying organic matter like rotting wood, leaf litter, and fungi outdoors. These species contribute to decomposition. Even then, they consume wood that is already breaking down, not structurally sound timber. Common household cockroaches, such as German or American cockroaches, do not consume wood.

The True Diet of Roaches

Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers, meaning they consume both plant and animal matter. They are highly opportunistic and adaptable, feeding on a wide range of organic substances available in their environment. Their diet frequently includes human food scraps, crumbs, and spills, with a particular preference for sweets, starches, and greasy foods.

Beyond typical food items, cockroaches also consume materials like paper products, cardboard, book bindings, and wallpaper glue, often attracted to the starches and glues within these items. Other unusual food sources can include hair, dead skin cells, fingernails, and even other dead insects or their own cast-off skins.

Why Roaches Are Found Near Wood

The presence of cockroaches near wood often leads to the mistaken belief that they are consuming it. In reality, cockroaches are attracted to wooden structures for shelter, warmth, and moisture. Wood, particularly if decaying or water-damaged, provides an ideal environment for these pests.

Cracks and crevices in wood offer excellent hiding spots where cockroaches can conceal themselves. Wood can also retain moisture, creating the damp, humid conditions that many cockroach species seek for survival and reproduction. Any damage observed on wooden items when cockroaches are present is likely coincidental, caused by other wood-destroying pests like termites, or a result of moisture damage that attracted the cockroaches in the first place.