Who eats cockroaches: 10 those who eat harmful insects
Cockroaches are insects that live in wildlife and in rooms where people live. But they have enemies who do not mind replenishing their supply of proteins and chitin at the expense of cockroaches. In some countries, cockroach dishes are considered an exotic delicacy and people eat them.
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Enemies in habitats
Cockroaches living in wildlife have many enemies. Despite the fact that these insects run fast, and some species can even fly, they become food for many animals. They are juicy, nutritious, therefore they are not the main diet, but rather a delicacy.
Birds
Birds are cockroach hunters.
Sparrows and crows are happy to add cockroaches to their diet. Domestic chickens eat barbels that settle in sheds and next to sewers. Basically, Prussians and black cockroaches live next to people, and they fall into the beak of birds and chickens.
Songbirds also love to eat delicious animals. For robins and nightingales, they specially buy, and some grow, marble cockroaches.
Frogs
Cockroaches are not the main food for frogs, but they do not refuse to feast on a cockroach running past. Thanks to their jumps and skillful hunting, they easily catch food.
A cockroach sticks to a long sticky tongue, which has no chance to get out.
Spiders
These arthropods weave strong nets in secluded places, and trapped cockroaches will be a nutritious and healthy meal for them. And the remaining shells will become bait for other cockroaches that will come, hoping for food and fall into the web.
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Lizards and snakes
Lizards are lovers of cockroaches.
In nature, these reptiles are happy to snack on protein-rich barbels. They are easy prey for them, and do not emit any poisonous substances when they enter the stomach of lizards and snakes.
Reptiles feed on mustachioed pests, like any other food - swallowing them completely. Insectivorous snakes can sometimes have a bite to eat as a cockroach runs past.
Animals
The hedgehog is a natural enemy.
The main enemy of cockroaches is a hedgehog. It feeds in nature on various kinds of beetles, which are a source of chitin and protein. The hedgehog goes hunting in the dark, he runs fast and can catch up and catch cockroaches, which are also nocturnal, and crawl out at this time to eat.
Cockroaches living in the tropics become food for monkeys. These mammals prey on scavengers and specially catch them to treat the younger generation.
Rodents
Domestic rats.
Hamsters, domestic rats, mice, guinea pigs living in cages will eat cockroaches that accidentally get to them. Usually they are attracted by the smell of food, they crawl into the cages of pets and become dinner themselves.
Although sometimes cockroaches can be harmful, because they can become a source of disease for a pet or carry poison on themselves. It is better to keep an eye on pets and, if cockroaches suddenly appeared in the home, to protect rodents from possible encroachment.
Other insects
The emerald wasp specifically catches cockroaches, paralyzes them with its poison, drags them into the nest and debugs eggs into paralyzed individuals. The larvae that emerge from the eggs feed on the insides of the cockroach.
| Mantis | The praying mantis is a skilled hunter, he waits for his prey, attacks it from an ambush. A cockroach on the way will be his dinner. |
| Ant | Ants are pulled into the anthill to feed the larvae of dead cockroaches. They will divide them into parts and prepare them for the winter. |
| Other cockroaches | And the representatives of the two species living in the house cannot live side by side and wage a war, albeit a cold one. They divide territory and steal food. |
| Pharaohs ant | One species of ants - pharaohs, can eat cockroaches. But only the dead. And so that they die, the whole family attacks the victim and bites her. |
Pets
Cats prey on cockroaches.
Cats are playful hunters, and cockroaches that fall into their paws will become a toy, and then food. Scientists even claim that chitin is beneficial. Again, if the cockroach does not carry infection or disease.
They can prey on scavengers, cockroaches and dogs. But they do not specifically eat insects, but everything that serves them as food. In the yard, the beast will not refuse a cockroach running past.
Exotic animals
Fans of exotic animals feed their pets cockroaches, which they raise themselves for this purpose, or buy them in a pet store. Birds living at home, hedgehogs and fish, iguanas, turtles eat these insects with pleasure.
Dishes from cockroaches for people
Cockroaches are a source of protein.
In some countries of Asia and Africa, people eat dishes made from cockroaches. Such food is rich in proteins, and in restaurants they are fried and served with various spices and sauces.
Cockroaches for restaurants and cafes are grown on special farms. Mostly American, Argentinean, marble cockroaches are bred. These species are large in size and easy to grow in specially equipped terrariums.
Conclusion
Cockroaches living in wildlife or in human dwellings have many enemies who want to feast on them. Many animals, birds, reptiles and other insects eat barbels. But sometimes their numbers are growing rapidly, so that urgent intervention is required to destroy them.
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