How Many Legs Does A Cockroach Have?

This is a popular question we all have asked ourselves at least once in our lives: how many legs do cockroaches have?

To answer you quickly: cockroaches have six legs and each pair of legs is attached to one side of their thorax.

Every pair of legs has a specific name: prothoracic, mesothoracic, and metathoracic.

Interesting right? Don’t worry we’ve got more for you below. Keep reading.

How Many Legs Do Cockroaches Have?

A cockroach has six legs. And, as told above, each pair of legs has a specific name.

Prothoracic legs are closer to the head of the cockroach, and they are tiny compared to the others.

The metathoracic legs are located at the back of the thorax and they help the insect to move forward.

There’s a part on the upper side of each leg called coxa that attaches the legs to the insect’s thorax. The leg of a cockroach can grow back from scratch if they lose it.

The Head

The head of a cockroach holds its eyes, mouthparts, antennae, and part of its nervous system.

Have you heard about the myth of cockroaches living after they lose their heads? Well, its no myth, since the other parts of their nervous system are located throughout their body, cockroaches can live at least one week without a head.

The antennae of these insects help them to feel and smell the world around them.

Cockroaches continuously clean their antennae, but scientists still don’t know why they do it.

Obviously, a cockroach’s mouthparts are different from other mammals, but these organs work just the same for them: these insects cut, chew, and grind their food.

Moreover, cockroaches also have two lips called labrum and labium.

On the head, there’s a small plaque called pronotum, which is an important part of these insects since here you can find the markings that differentiate each species from one another.

The Thorax

As explained before, in the thorax of a cockroach we find the legs. Additionally, on the thorax, we also find the wings.

Almost every type of adult cockroach has two pairs of wings but most of them don’t use them to fly.

The Abdomen

The last part of the anatomy of a cockroach and an essential one since it contains the insects’ organs.

A cockroach has a heart and a circulatory system, a digestive system, reproductive organs, and sensory organs.

Thanks to their sensory organs, cockroaches can feel whatever is behind them, and that’s the reason why they are so difficult to catch!

Dealing with Roaches with Professional Pest Control

Spotting one or two roaches roaming in your house is probably not a sign of danger; however, the same can’t be said in the case of a heavy roach infestation.

This is where a licensed exterminator comes into the picture!

To know more about the equipped pest control services in your area, fill the below-mentioned form to get free multiple quotes from the professional Pest Control Companies in your vicinity so that you can decide which one to hire for your infestation problem.

Don’t worry; all your personal details are completely safe here! And by filling the form, at least, you’ll know how much you will have to pay if you take the help of your local exterminators.

Final Words

To sum it up, cockroaches have three pairs of legs attached to their thorax.

The thorax is only just one of the three essential body parts of these insects, the other ones are the head and the abdomen.

On the head, we can find the mouthparts, antennae, eyes, and part of its nervous system.

In the abdomen, we find the reproductive and sensory organs and the digestive system and circulatory system of a cockroach.

Overall, these insects have evolved to live in every possible era, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to eradicate.

Do you have roaches in your house? How are you getting rid of them? Let us know in the comments below.