Do Cockroaches Fly? Which Ones Fly and When
Some cockroaches fly, but most of the roaches that live in DFW homes don't. The American and smokybrown cockroaches can fly or glide, and the Asian cockroach, an outdoor roach that shows up across DFW, is a strong flier. German and oriental cockroaches don't fly at all. Most flights happen on warm nights.
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Which Cockroaches Fly in DFW
Wings alone don't make a flier. Some common roaches have full wings and still stay on the ground. The table below shows which cockroaches around DFW fly, when, and where they live.
| Cockroach | Does it fly? | When it flies | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | Yes both sexes, but poorly | Short flights and glides on warm nights | Sewers, drains, mulch, garages |
| Smokybrown | Yes a good flier | Warm, humid evenings | Tree holes, woodpiles, attics, garages |
| Asian | Yes a strong flier | Dusk, or by day if startled | Lawns and leaf litter |
| Brownbanded | Males only | When startled, mostly above 85°F | Indoors, in bedrooms and closets |
| German | No despite full wings | Never | Indoors, in kitchens and bathrooms |
| Oriental | No short wings | Never | Damp, ground-level spots and drains |
Males and females of the American cockroach, the biggest roach in Texas, can both fly, according to Texas A&M AgriLife. University of Florida entomologists rate them poor to average fliers, though, so most flights are short. The smokybrown is the stronger flier of the two big roaches. The University of Florida's smokybrown cockroach profile calls both sexes good fliers that head for light.
When Do Cockroaches Fly?
Cockroaches fly when it is warm. UC IPM notes that the few species that fly make short flights or glides on warm nights, and that smokybrown adults fly most on warm, humid evenings. Brownbanded males sometimes fly when startled, especially above 85°F.
In DFW, that points to the long summer. DFW usually sees its first 100-degree day around July 1 and its last near August 27, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. That gives flying roaches months of warm evenings.
The Asian cockroach keeps a tighter schedule. In DFW, Asian cockroaches usually emerge in late March as the soil warms. Texas A&M notes that it is most active at dusk and takes off even in daylight when something startles it. The University of Florida adds that homeowners often run into Asian cockroaches after mulching flower beds in spring.
Why Flying Cockroaches Head for Lights
Light pulls in some fliers and pushes others away. Smokybrown and Asian cockroaches fly toward it. The University of Florida notes that smokybrown roaches readily enter buildings through lit openings, and that Asian roaches fly to lit surfaces, sometimes by the thousands onto porches and windows. Texas A&M adds the pale green Cuban cockroach, whose females fly to porch lights, and wood cockroaches, which people meet most often at lights after dark.
The American cockroach works the other way. The University of Florida notes that it shies away from light and spends the day in dark spots near water.
Lighting is the easiest fix. Texas A&M AgriLife's guide to cockroaches in the Texas landscape advises turning off lights around the home to cut down on flying species. Where you need a light, warm yellow LED bulbs draw fewer flying insects than bright white ones, though no bulb makes a porch invisible to them.
Does a Flying Cockroach Mean an Infestation?
Not usually. The roaches that fly around DFW mostly live outside and wander in through doors, soffits, lit windows and floor drains. A single flier in the house is often just a visitor. Wood cockroaches are the clearest case. Texas A&M notes that they live mainly in wooded areas and show up at lights, and the University of Kentucky reports that they can't survive indoors.
Repeated sightings tell a different story. UC IPM notes that smokybrown cockroaches favor the upper parts of buildings and sometimes take refuge in attics. Roaches flying near ceilings or upstairs can point to a harborage in the attic or soffits. And because German cockroaches never fly, small roaches running in the kitchen are a separate, indoor problem.
Most of the fix happens outside the house. These steps cut down on flying visitors.
- Keep window screens tight and add sweeps to exterior doors.
- Make sure soffit and attic vents have screens.
- Trim branches that touch the roof or hang over it.
- Keep mulch thin and move woodpiles away from the house.
If flying roaches keep getting in, our guide to how Forterra keeps outdoor roaches outside explains the perimeter work.
Flying Cockroach FAQ
Can regular house roaches fly?
Mostly no. The German cockroach, the most common roach breeding inside homes, has full wings but doesn't fly. A small, striped roach flying to your porch light is not a German cockroach. It may be an Asian cockroach, an outdoor look-alike.
Can cockroaches bite you?
They can, but it rarely happens. Cockroaches are clumsy fliers, so one that lands on you most likely got there by accident.
How far can a cockroach fly?
It depends on the species. Texas A&M notes that the Asian cockroach can fly 120 feet or more in a single flight. American cockroaches usually manage much shorter flights and glides.
If flying roaches keep turning up at your doors and windows, the fix starts outside. Homeowners in Denton County can see how our Aubrey office handles them on the cockroach control in Aubrey page, and an online quote gives the price for your house.
