Have you been bitten by a white roach, and now you are looking for an answer to this question: Are white roaches poisonous? If it is so, then you have come to the right place.
In this blog, I have mentioned all the compelling and valuable information you need to know about white roaches. Then, I will tell you whether you need to be afraid of this white roach.
So, if you want to get all the details about these terrifying insects, stay with me till the end of this essay. Then, let’s get started without further delay.
Are White Roaches Poisonous?
Nothing can be considered poisonous unless it contains a toxicant in it. For example, white roaches can cause health issues, but they are not poisonous as they don’t contain any toxic substances. So if a white roach has bitten you, you can get diseases caused by bacteria and viruses due to their pathogen-carrying property, but you can’t die.
You can get diseases from white cockroaches: dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, and some infections like asthma and other respiratory tract disorders.
White cockroaches can also carry acne bacteria which can transfer to your skin by biting you, so they can also cause skin infections, pimples, and bumps on your face and other body parts.
What are White Roaches?
Most people develop an image of a different species by hearing the name white roaches. But I will tell you, what exactly are these white roaches?
White roaches are not any other member of the cockroach species but the same cockroach with a blackish or dark brown body.
When a cockroach becomes an adult, it undergoes a mechanism of changing its outer covering and replacing it with a new one; in other words, it changes its clothes.
So, when a cockroach removes its black or brown outer covering, it appears to be a soft white insect, and many people find this white outfit more terrifying than the brown one.
This process of removing and replacing the skeleton is known as molting and the phase is known as the molting phase.
Almost every cockroach follows this process and remains in this condition for minutes to hours. Moreover, during this process, cockroaches look more prominent.
Therefore, due to their visibility, they prefer to remain in dark places to protect themselves from their hunters; this is why you rarely see white roaches.
Can We Call a White Roach an Albino?
The short answer to this question is no. Many people confuse white cockroaches with albino ones because of their same white color, but they are not the same.
Any cockroach is called an albino, which is born with mutations in its genes, so an albino cockroach is not a normal one as it has some genetic disorders.
An albino cockroach has some mutations in its color-producing genes; due to these mutations and genetic disorders, it fails to develop standard black or brown color and remains white.
On the other hand, a white roach is a regular roach because the process of replacing the outer skeleton is normal, and every cockroach faces this process, so it is not a genetic disorder.
Moreover, the color of a white roach is not permanent, while the white color of an albino roach is everlasting.
Do White Roaches Bite?
Yes, they start biting when they feel the danger to their life, but their biting parts aren’t strong enough, so you won’t feel any pain because they are tiny insects.
In addition, sometimes it seems that they are biting, but they are only trying to pick small food particles or dead skin. So they only bite you if you have any food particles on your body.
The good thing is that their biting doesn’t affect humans, you may feel just like a needle comes in contact with your skin, but those who are allergic to cockroaches can experience redness of the skin.
Diseases Spread by White Roaches
As I have mentioned above, cockroaches are more likely to spread diseases that can be fatal to us. I have listed some common diseases caused by cockroaches and their details so let’s find out.
1. Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by a particular type of bacteria known as salmonella. Cockroaches carry this bacteria and transfer it to our food.
Food contaminated by salmonella can cause stomach problems and infections. It can also cause high fever and abdominal pain.
2. Typhoid
Typhoid is another disease caused by bacteria. Cockroaches found in toilets are more likely to carry bacteria called salmonella typhi, which can act as a primary culprit in causing typhoid.
Typhoid is followed by high fever, stomach pain, and constipation.
3. Cholera
Cholera is another disease that can cause diarrheal conditions. Like any other disease, It is also spread by a bacteria named vibrio cholera.
Cockroaches act as transporters of vibrio cholera by contaminating the food, and you can get this disease by eating such food, which can cause vomiting and stomach problems.
It may or may not have obvious symptoms.
4. Dysentery
This disease is followed by severe diarrhea. The patient having this type of diarrhea may have bloody vomiting. Just like all the above diseases, it is also carried by bacteria.
To avoid Dysentery, it is mandatory to keep a check on sanitary conditions.
5. Lungs Infection
White roaches are also known to spread infections related to the respiratory system. They spread bacteria that reside in our airways and make them broad.
Why Do White Roaches Shed Their Skeletons?
As I have mentioned earlier, white roaches undergo a process of molting in which they remove their old covering. Now let me explain to you the reason behind it.
Actually, the outer covering of a roach acts as a barrier to its growth; it inhibits the growth of the roach.
Therefore, Roaches remove their old outer covering so that they can grow just like other insects and can achieve adulthood. A single roach can undergo this process 10 to 13 times.
Moreover, the old exoskeleton of a white roach is believed to be a source of various diseases because the exoskeleton is a place where bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens stick.
So if you see a white roach in your house, be alert and consider finding and removing other roaches and their old shields.
Precautionary Measures to Take After Seeing a White Roach
Although the white roach is not poisonous because it does not contain poison, it is harmful and dangerous as it is the same cockroach that is associated with spreading various diseases.
All cockroaches are known as pests, and the only reason is their capability to spread various diseases. Have you ever wondered how these insects are involved in spreading diseases?
All cockroaches, independent of their color, carry a lot of pathogens with them. These pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which are known to develop serious health issues.
So therefore, if you see a white roach in your bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, this means you are at risk of developing diseases. Don’t worry, as I have listed some preventive measures below.
- If you have seen one white roach, this means that there are more cockroaches hidden somewhere in your house, so the first step is to find the places where roaches are hidden.
- Search for roaches in dark places, like your basement, corners of cupboards, drawers of the kitchen, beds, and spaces between ceilings and walls.
- Cockroaches need water for normal body functioning; therefore, you can also find them behind water containers, in bathrooms, and in water pipes.
- If you fail in your search operation, don’t worry; you can take help from a professional pest controller, who can find these tiny creatures with the help of some special devices.
- You can also apply some home remedies; for this, take 1 tbsp of baking soda and add sugar to it. This will cause roaches to come out of their hidden shelter.
I have tested the baking soda technique to detect cockroaches, and this really works; this technique serves as two in one because cockroaches like sugar, and they find it appealing.
After finding sugar, a cockroach sends signals to its remaining fellows; on receiving a message, all cockroaches come to get food, but the baking soda mixed in sugar causes them to die.
Lifecycle of a White Roach
Every living organism passes through various stages during its life cycle. The complete developing process of a white roach comprises three steps or phases.
Some female cockroaches produce new roaches inside their body, and in some of them, the developing process takes place outside their body.
The egg-carrying bag is called an ootheca; first, the egg undergoes some processes and hatches as a small nymph after complete development.
Next, the nymph grows into a complete adult cockroach. Moreover, the growth of cockroaches depends on suitable temperature, moisture, and availability of food.
I have mentioned the complete lifecycle of white roaches in the table below, so let’s have a look!
| No | Stages | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egg | 49 days |
| 2 | Nymph | 59.5 days – 3 years |
| 3 | Adult Cockroach | 179.5 days -15 months |
Final Thoughts
Roaches shed their skeleton and look white that, raises a question in mind: Do white roaches poisonous?
White roaches do not belong to different species of cockroaches, but they are normal cockroaches in a state of development.
Roaches are unable to grow with their shell because the exoskeleton is a part of the roach body that does not increase in size; therefore, roaches remove their old skeleton after preparing a new one.
I have tried my best to provide an answer to this question. Furthermore, I have provided some extra information related to white roaches based on my experiences.
I hope you will find this article helpful.
FAQ’s:
How Long Do Roaches Stay White?
If the white color of a roach is due to the shedding of the skeleton, it remains for a few minutes to hours. Moreover, baby roaches that are just hatched are also white in color and last up to 8 weeks.
What is the Other Name for a White Roach?
The white roach is often referred to as an albino roach, but it is not actually an albino roach; the most suitable term for a white roach is a molting roach.
Does One Roach Mean Infestation?
No, one roach does not mean infestation, but it means that you are at risk of having more than one cockroach, so I advise you to carry out a search operation.