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Are White Roaches Poisonous?

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White roaches are not rare and you must have seen them in your homes, but are white roaches poisonous? No, they’re not poisonous. For a very long time, white roaches were just not as common as their colored counterparts.

However, despite being non-poisonous, white roaches can bring diseases and harmful bacteria into your home. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how you can deal with them. In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to know to deal with white roaches.

Are White Roaches Poisonous?

White cockroaches are generally not different from regular cockroaches. They are only white because they are undergoing physical changes. However, it is quite safe to say that they are just as dangerous as other cockroaches but not poisonous.

What is a White Roach?

A white roach is merely a roach that is undergoing its periodic molting process. The white phase of a roach is the molting phase called an exuvia.

A white roach that is undergoing molting can be found in many places. But one that has a smooth and hard shell is extremely rare.

are white roaches poisonous

Cockroaches have a molting process, which is when they shed their exoskeleton. In this phase, cockroaches develop a new exoskeleton that is white in color until it develops and hardens.

White roaches are small, hard-to-spot insects with long antennae that resemble white-grayish colors. They use their speed and agility to hide, which makes them harder for people to find during this phase.

Generally, white roaches are harder to spot during this molting phase because they blend in with their surroundings or simply hide in spots that are impossible to reach, and it is difficult for pest control companies to find them.

Unlike other species of cockroach that have a brown hue on their bodies, these insects tend to be whitish-gray or even yellow-white.

The appearance is camouflaged enough so as not to attract attention if they were spotted while moving around, but different enough from normal, dark-colored roach populations that you would notice something unusual about them.

The white roach could also be a rare, lighter variant of the American cockroach. They are adept at hiding, making them harder to spot during this phase, as they typically blend in with their surroundings and prefer dark places such as sewers or floorboards.

The lack of coloration may also be an adaptation for survival purposes since predators have difficulty distinguishing between prey that is similar in coloration when it’s camouflaged from its environment by its coat thickness. These pests are also harder to eradicate because they reproduce more slowly than other species.

What is an Albino Cockroach?

An albino cockroach is any roach that has a lack of pigmentation. It can result in the insect having no color at all or simply not being visibly different from the other roaches in your home.

The definition of an albino is a very broad one, and it’s possible for there to be many levels of albinism depending on how much pigmentation they have left.

albino cockroach

The albino cockroach is not a common occurrence, and you will seldom find them anywhere. These unpigmented roaches are actually so rare that there are only two documented cases in the world.

The white cockroaches that you will find around your house or apartment are typically not albinos but brownish to black like most others that are going through their molting process.

The reason that you won’t generally find truly albino roaches is that albinism is not a genetic condition that affects roaches. Roaches are able to survive in many types of light, so they don’t need any special conditions like albinism to live long or reproduce successfully.

The diagnosis of an albino roach depends on how it displays its colors under light conditions, which indicate whether it has normal pigmentation or if there’s any damage in the retina of its eyes.

What is Molting?

All cockroaches undergo a process called molting about ten times throughout their lives. Molting is the process of shedding an old exoskeleton, or outer layer, and replacing it with a new one in order to grow.

It’s a common process for all insects that classify as arthropods, such as cockroaches, spiders, ants, beetles, and others.

Molting of cockroaches

Insects molt to allow for growth, escape from predators, or mating. The process takes anywhere from 6 hours to 2 weeks as well, depending on the insect that molts.

The exoskeleton of insects is made from a compound known as chitin, and their cells are able to make use of it for structural purposes.

The new exoskeleton that cockroaches start developing after shedding the old one becomes more rigid when dried out. It changes color before hardening in about 10 minutes once wetted by dew or raindrops. 

In cockroaches, the white color comes from pigments present in the old exoskeletons that mix together during molting to create a bright white color for a little while.

Why Are Cockroaches So Hard to Get Rid Of?

Cockroaches have excellent immune systems. This allows them to resist almost any type of chemical or method of pest control.

For this reason, among many others, it is often difficult to rid your home of cockroaches and other types of pests such as mice, rats, and bed bugs. Cockroaches can kill many microbes and fungi, making them one of the most successful pests in history.

Cockroaches are, therefore, one of the most difficult bugs to get rid of. They also have many sensory organs, and they can sense the environment around them.

This includes detecting heat from humans when they are nearby or sensing food particles even if it is buried in dirt under a few inches of soil.

They live by eating, drinking water, or anything else they can find: sugar, meat, or even cardboard. So you need to use powerful chemical solutions that will kill all life stages on contact.

Some cockroach species like American Cockroaches can even survive in environments with high moisture.

Further, you will also be unable to get rid of roaches because they live in unreachable and tight spaces, where it is hard to kill them all at once, making it harder for pest control companies to find their nests.

Roach life cycle in a nutshell

The roach life cycle is a complicated and often confusing process. In order to understand the roach life cycle, it’s important to know what types of stages there are. To begin with, cockroaches’ life cycles start with eggs.

The eggs are eventually deposited in a safe location after being carried by the adult. Multiple dozens of eggs will be deposited at one time, with each egg containing up to 100 young ones inside. Once they hatch, they will consume all available food sources until they reach maturity as adults.

While the roach life cycle is broken up into several stages, the most important stage for pest control professionals to focus on is nymphs. Cockroaches will shed their old skin and grow a new one at least five times during this time period before becoming adults.

It’s imperative that you take care of these earlier cockroach stages because they can easily get out of hand when left unchecked.

Only a cockroach that has gone through its final process of molting can be called an adult cockroach.

As adults, roaches are brown or black in color and slightly winged with a dark stripe down each side of their bodies. Females have wings, but males do not, as they can’t fly without the aid of wind currents that blow over them for lift-off.

Discovering a White Roach

The first thing that might come up in your mind when you discover a white roach might be that someone has been storing chemicals or other hazardous materials near where you live, but this isn’t always true as some people have pets who can create these types of pests or cause them to set up shop in your house.

Regardless of how you discover a roach white in color, there is a risk associated with them that you should be aware of.

You should always remember when you find a white roach because they often come out when there is something wrong with the home, such as mold or structural damage. If you see one, it’s best to contact an exterminator right away and get your home tested for safety issues.

Cockroaches are not particularly a sign of bad hygiene, but rather they are part of nature and often found in homes. 

Cockroaches cause disease, asthma, and allergies because their feces contain bacteria that is transferred to humans through contact with the roach’s mouthparts. While it’s not a common occurrence, white roaches can also be found in infestations.

When they leave their visible exoskeletons behind on the walls and ceilings of homes or businesses, these exoskeletons are hazardous to health as well as to property cleanliness because they harbor bacteria.

The life cycle of white cockroaches: How do they appear?

A white cockroach is a type of roach that has successfully hatched from an egg or is undergoing molting. This nymph then feeds and grows until it reaches adulthood. In the first stage, roaches shed their old skin and become vulnerable due to their soft skin.

They are cream or light tan, depending on how long they have been in this state. In the second stage, roaches begin molting (shedding) white and are easily visible under any lighting condition. Once the white cockroach reaches adulthood, it will produce eggs of its own.

They will molt 4-10 times before reaching adulthood during the nymphal stage. After that, it can live up to 1 year and feed on almost anything organic or dead matter.

As these adults grow older, they tend to become darker in color due to their molting process, which is when their exoskeleton sheds off, and new ones grow back on top.

The life cycle of the white cockroach lasts about 3-4 months, with the adults living in their burrows for about a month before they die.

How to Prevent White Roaches?

White roaches result from dirty or dusty areas, which you can prevent by using a non-toxic disinfectant to clean hard surfaces and washing dishes in hot water.

Simply put, the best way that you can prevent and control white roaches is by keeping your kitchen and bathrooms clean. Furthermore, seal food in airtight baggies and boxes to prevent white roaches from entering or accessing them.

You can easily prevent white roaches by keeping trash cans with tight lids. These types of containers should have a cover that will keep the lid in place, preventing any unwanted bugs from entering. To prevent white roaches from multiplying, you must sanitize everything and maintain good hygiene habits.

Are White Roaches Dangerous?

Yes, white roaches are dangerous. Like other roaches, white roaches are not just dirty; they can carry disease.

According to the National Pest Management Association, white roaches are no more dangerous than other types of cockroaches.

While they may look like a bigger or a more peculiar threat since their exoskeleton is white and it’s harder to see them coming, you can’t tell if they carry disease because this coloration doesn’t change when they’re sick or carrying an egg case.

These types of cockroaches are dangerous because they can live in your home. They only breed in sewage or humid and dirty areas and lay waste all over the kitchen counter and in other parts of your house, which can cause disease to humans.

Cockroaches are known to be one of the most common household pests. White roaches have been linked to 30 different species of bacteria and can worsen asthma or other allergies in humans, which is why they should not be overlooked when it comes to safety precautions.

It’s important for people with asthmatic conditions or children living close to white cockroaches, who could suffer a severe allergic reaction requiring hospitalization.

Why Are White Cockroaches So Rare to See?

White cockroaches are rare because they are so well camouflaged and can hide in any dark, tight space. They also have the ability to survive on their own without food or water for a long time.

Even the fact that they have a specialized diet contributes to them being difficult insects to spot. White roaches eat the nectar from flowers and will only feed on that food. Unless they find these foods, they are unlikely to come out of their hidey holes.

White cockroaches can also be rare because of a genetic mutation that makes them unable to produce the distinctive red pigment (hemoglobin) found in most other house and garden pests.

Furthermore, since cockroaches have an extremely limited ability to move and lack strength in their molting phase when they have a developing white exoskeleton, they pick spots that will protect them from external threats and keep them humid.

Cockroaches rarely ever come out of these tight spots when in this stage. This is one of the prime reasons you won’t see white cockroaches.

Why Do Cockroaches Have White Blood?

Cockroaches have blood that is 90 percent water and 10 percent hemocyanin, which carries oxygen through their bodies.

Roaches are different from humans because they do not produce hemoglobin (a compound responsible for making human blood red). This means that roach blood does not change color when oxygen levels drop, unlike the blood of mammals, which quickly turns a darker red color.

Cockroaches sport structures called spiracles. These tiny holes on the sides of their wings allow them to breathe and spread oxygen throughout their bodies.

They also have white blood cells to protect themselves from bacteria and other pests while they’re still alive so that they don’t become infected with germs or diseased when it’s too late for any remedy.

The only reason why their white blood changes to brown are because, in pregnant roaches, their blood contains vitamin B12 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH).

These vitamins nurture young roaches so they can survive without food for at least two weeks, while other insects need just a few days.

Are Baby Roaches White?

In terms of color, baby roaches will not be any different than adult cockroaches. Generally, baby cockroaches are only white when they are newborns.

Baby cockroaches undergo a tanning process and develop a brown exoskeleton, making them look different from adults.

Are all Cockroaches White when they Molt?

Some species of cockroaches are completely white or slightly yellow when they molt. According to the experts, all species of cockroaches are almost pure white when they first emerge from their old exoskeleton.

The process of hardening the exoskeleton takes about 4 hours, after which it will be almost pure white only when it molts the next time.

Cockroaches have different colors when they molt. Black, white, yellow, and brown are the most common shades of color that a roach’s exoskeleton hardens into place while molting. 

The newly hardened exoskeleton appears “white” because there is no pigment in its new shell to give off any other appearance after molting.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.