Do cockroaches really fly? Explaining the truth behind "It came right at me!"

Basically, cockroaches cannot fly.
Many people feel like "It flew right at me!", but at most, they can only glide for a few meters.

Cockroaches don't "fly," they "glide"

Although cockroaches have shiny, impressive-looking "wings," they are insects with very little flight capability. They can almost never take off into the air under their own power.
However, timid cockroaches may flap their wings andglidespectacularly from a high place to a lower one when cornered.
　・Gliding distance: A few meters at most
　・Gliding movement: Clumsy and uncontrollable
　・Gliding frequency: Quite rare (they basically run to escape. Running is actually faster)
A cockroach's glide is merely an aid when fallingand is completely different from the graceful "flight" of butterflies or dragonflies.

Differences by species - but they still can't fly

Among the cockroaches that often appear in Japanese homes and buildings:
　・Smokybrown cockroach / American cockroach
　　　　→ Capable of gliding a few meters from a high place.
　・German cockroach (small cockroach found in stores)
　　　　→ Cannot fly. Even gliding is almost impossible.
　・Yamato cockroach (a Japanese native species found in cold regions)
　　　　→ Cannot fly. In the first place, the females have short, vestigial wings, so it is impossible.
What all species have in common is thatthey are almost unable to use their wings to fly up from a low place to a high place.
(Please see this link for photos of each cockroach↓↓↓)

Why can't cockroaches fly?

If you look closely at a cockroach's body, you can see the reason.
　・The legs are thick and highly developed
　・The center of gravity is low, a body type suited for running
　・The body is heavy and not suited for flight.
Comparing a cockroach's thick legs to the thin legs of flies, mosquitoes, or butterflies makes it obvious. Cockroaches have evolved to be entirely specialized for "running."

The truth behind "It flew at me!" and "It came toward me!" - sometimes they are just thrashing after being sprayed

I often hear stories about how "a cockroach came right at me!" or "it flew and attacked me." But in reality,
　・The cockroach is in a state of panic even greater than the human
　・It has lost track of which way to escape
　・It ended up coming toward the person as a result
is the case in almost every instance. It isnot attackingthe person.

Furthermore, a cockroach that has been sprayed with insecticide (such as pyrethroids) loses control of its movements. As a result, while it thrashes about,it may fall from a high place, thrash temporarily, or lose its sense of direction.
This can also be the cause of feeling like "It flew at me!" or "It came toward me!"

Exception - There are some cockroaches in the wild that fly a little

The small "Ectobius vittiventris" (forest cockroach) often found in grassy areas is an exception. When startled, it uses its wings to flutter and fly at a low altitude (though it cannot fly very long distances).
They are often confused with the indoor German cockroach because they look almost identical, but the one that lives outdoors and can fly is the forest cockroach.

Summary of other common misconceptions about cockroaches - Do they bite? Are they dirty?

It is surprising to see a cockroach unexpectedly in your house, but let's stay calm for now. They are not immediately terrifying creatures.
・Cockroaches do not bite or sting people
　Cockroaches have many spines on their legs, so it might feel prickly if they touch you, but they do not have organs to bite or sting people.
・You don't need to be overly wary of germs from cockroaches
　It is true that cockroaches can be carriers of bacteria and viruses that cause infectious diseases, but in modern Japan, where flush toilets are widespread and the environment is among the most hygienic in the world, you don't necessarily have to think that cockroaches immediately carry terrifying pathogens (depending on the environment, such as inside a hospital, you do need to be careful. Also, feces, carcasses, and shed skins can cause allergies).
　Cockroaches are actually clean creatures that frequently lick their antennae and legs to keep them clean, and they produce antibacterial substances themselves to coat their bodies.

Summary: Cockroaches are creatures that run.

The primary action of a cockroach is, after all, to 'run'.
If a cockroach suddenly appears, don't assume it's 'flying to attack you'; stay calm and deal with it.
With the cockroach exterminator 'Cockroach Muender', you can reset your entire room, even if the cockroach has run off somewhere unknown or you aren't sure if one is even there.
Be free from cockroaches with 'Cockroach Muender'!