Cockroaches belong to the edible species of insects that can be enjoyed by many animals both in the wild and at home. Cockroaches are eaten by birds, reptiles, rodents, and other insects. Their chitinous shell is rich in nutrients, and the body itself is pure protein. Animals that eat cockroaches receive good nutrition, contributing to their normal development.
Natural Insect Enemies
In nature, a cockroach has many enemies. These include:
- various types of birds;
- rats, voles, hamsters, mice;
- hedgehogs;
- lizards, snakes, turtles;
- monkeys;
- wasps, centipedes, ants.
Most representatives of cockroaches quickly move and even fly. Animals that feed on cockroaches need to be very fast and have a lightning fast reaction to catch their lunch. Small birds eat cockroaches on trees, or catch them on the fly during short-term flights.
Interesting!
Madagascar cockroach species, unlike its relatives, moves very slowly. He hides from enemies in the forest litter, but they also find him there.
In tropical countries, monkeys catch cockroaches for a hearty snack. To satisfy their hunger, they need to catch more than a dozen insects. Lizards are capable of lightning fast jerking, which makes them ideal predators. Small rodents such as field voles, hamsters eat cockroaches with great pleasure.
Some species of insects eat cockroaches. The most sophisticated predator among them is the emerald wasp. She injects poison into the barbel’s body, paralyzing it, and pulls it into its hole. There, a wasp lays eggs in the body of its victim and closes the entrance to the hole. From the eggs appear larvae that feed on the insides of the cockroach, until they turn into pupae, and then into adults.
Pet food
Many lovers of exotic pets use cockroaches as food for them. From animals cockroaches eat decorative rodents, iguanas, small snakes, frogs. The lizard gladly eats the Prusaks, so it is specially bred to get rid of annoying pests. Home cockroaches for feeding, pets are bought in pet stores or bred independently in separate aquariums, which is much more profitable. Feed species include marble, argentinian, Turkestan.
Important!
Do not give pets as food prusakacaught in the apartment. He could eat poison in neighboring rooms and be hazardous to the health of pets.
Cockroaches in the apartment eat cats and dogs. They are attracted by a nimble insect and sometimes, after playing too much, pets can swallow it. Even a cat and a dog will not harm such a snack. But little kittens and puppies should not be allowed to eat Prussians. Their hard elytra can cause indigestion in the stomach of babies.
Food for people
In many parts of the world, people eat insects. These countries include:
- Thailand;
- Vietnam;
- China;
- Cambodia;
- Laos;
- Myanmar
- India;
- Indonesia;
- African countries.
Cockroaches, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants can be included in the daily diet of local residents. Many families in developing countries are below the poverty line, which is why such food is a cheap substitute for meat.
In local restaurants and cafes for tourists, they prepare all kinds of dishes from representatives of cockroaches. They are fried, stewed with sauces and side dishes, consumed alive. In the tourist area, such a menu can be expensive.
These pests have many enemies both in the wild and at home. Besides the fact that they can be eaten, most often they are trying to poison the owners of the houses where they live. The danger that lies everywhere has taught them to be careful and adapt to different living conditions.
I don’t understand people who breed cockroaches at home. And if they run away? And about those who also eat cockroaches, I’m generally silent!