Water bugs are able to deliver a painful bite which no species of cockroaches can.Everyone hates to see cockroach infestation in their home. But when they see a bug on the floor, they don’t even panic, but what if it was a cockroach?You desperately hope it to be something else and nothing like cockroaches. Water bugs and cockroaches both belong to the class Insecta. Cockroaches belong to the order Blattodea but water bugs belong to the order Hemiptera. Water bugs and cockroaches have the same appearance, thus leading to confusion in people. There are around 4,500 cockroach species in the world. Some of the most common cockroach species are the German cockroaches, brown banded cockroaches, and oriental cockroaches. But there are key differences between a cockroach and a waterbug. You just need to know them. In this article, you will get all your doubts cleared. You will get to know about water bug vs cockroach differences, and fun facts about roaches and water bugs. Afterward, do check our other articles on egret vs heron and hornet vs yellow jacket. Is a water bug a cockroach?People get frequently confused between cockroaches and water bugs as they are similar in appearance and any difference is hard to spot. Though they have similar appearances and habits, they are still not the same. There are two different types of insects. The reddish brown American cockroaches and the shiny black oriental cockroaches are often thought of as water bugs. The oriental cockroaches are also known as black beetles. Oriental cockroaches also prefer moist and damp areas like water bugs. How do you tell if it’s a cockroach or a water bug?The only cockroach which is similar to waterbugs is the American cockroach, only because of its size. But they have differences. On the back of its head, it has a yellowish figure pattern of eight. Cockroaches mostly have the color of brown or tan, while water bugs are black or tan.What bugs can be mistaken for roaches?Cockroaches vs Crickets: Both are almost of the same size, but both have different colors as the crickets are much darker and many of them appear black. Cockroaches vs June Bugs: also known as May beetles are reddish brown or black in color. They are rounder than roaches, and they feed on plants. Some have fringed antennae which look like eyelashes. They’re attracted to light, but cockroaches tend to avoid light.Cockroach vs Beetle: the former has longer legs and antennae than the latter. Further, beetles have wings that are hard whereas the wings of cockroaches are leathery on top. Water bug vs cockroach: the former has a flat, oval shaped body, with no wings, long antennae, and their legs are covered with spines. Whereas the latter has got wings, short antennae, has a piercing mouth, and a pointed beak, and clawed front feet. Giant Water Bug is mostly seen in ponds and lakes. They tend to hang out in the vegetation on the edges of lakes and wetlands and wait for prey. Giant water bug eats aquatic insects, small fishes, and tadpoles. They can hold their breath underwater for long and wait for their prey. We often find water bugs around our houses. Waterbugs get attracted to humid and damp areas. They are even very attracted to stale food and garbage dumps. Finding water bugs inside the house is a sign that the house is not very clean. What causes water bugs in the house?Water bugs fly into houses only for a few reasons. Mainly, if the house is not clean or is out most of a homeowner’s control if they find food for themselves like stale food or sweets, and where these creatures find water easily. A water bug is very rarely seen approaching humans. These creatures sometimes crawl onto beds during the night because they are drawn by the sweat and skin cells that get collected in the bedsheets. They are capable of biting people, which causes painful bites but they are not frequently known to do it. According to scientists, sleeping in other animals is mainly understood from their brain activity. They believe that rest is taken each day by the insects. Rest for them usually means the time period when they’re not active. This state of rest is called torpor, and this state is not similar to sleep. Insects remain very still during torpor. They don’t even respond much to stimuli available around them. But if an environmental stimulus is powerful enough then they very easily come out of the torpor, maybe in just a few seconds. Do Water bugs have wings?As there are various sorts of water bugs, like the giant water bug and the water scorpion. Some species have wings but some don’t. Like, a water boatman does not have wings instead has oar-shaped feet that are sometimes confused with wings. But water scorpion and backswimmer both have wings.Water bugs bite only when they feel they’re threatened. Though they cause a painful bite, it is not dangerous to humans. As water bugs are not considered pests, thus they feed on other insects and not humans.Water bugs have eating habits of various aquatic life, including tadpoles, small fish, insects, and other arthropods. Some of them eat insect larvae and even aquatic insects. Others have eating habits: small water organisms, algae, plankton, and detritus.Water bugs, during their breeding season, fly from one waterbody to another. When flying, they get attracted to lights and are frequently seen near parking lot lights, arc lights, and under house lights. Due to this, they are known with the designation of ’electric light bug’. Water bugs are mainly seen outside during the night as they come out in search of food and water. They are easily attracted to them and thus sometimes invade homes at night. A nocturnal behavioral pattern is seen in the water bugs. They remain in their nests throughout the day and leave at night in search of food and water.We know that dead or dying insects probably make a similar pose like lying on their back, legs sticking up towards the sky. This position gives symptoms about the lowered coordination and a defective nervous system of a sick bug. This may occur due to an injury or maybe lack of food or water, which leads the bugs to this position. When the bug nears death, there is a ceasing in the normal blood flow in the body, which causes the legs to contract inwardly. Then they cannot bear the top heavy body which leads to turning them upside down. Most likely, the cockroaches get exposed to toxins or pest control that are sprayed around the house to eliminate the disease causing insects. Most of the pest control sprays create trouble for the roach’s internal circuitry or the nervous system. After that, they are unable to continue their coordinational system. Hence, left around intoxicated, they flip over and die. Their legs are towards the sky, in an upside-down position. Pest control helps in keeping them away from our homes. Waterbugs can move through walls; they make their way by chewing through them when required. They do so to build their nests. As waterbugs travel through the plenty of areas within the damp walls of the house, that’s why they are not seen frequently during the daytime.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Cockroach Vs Waterbug: Insect Differences Simplified For Kids then why not take a look at Why Do Bagels Have Holes In The Middle? Real Reason Explained, or Where Does Silk Come From? A Captivating Tale Of Mulberry Silk Fabric facts pages?
Water bugs are able to deliver a painful bite which no species of cockroaches can.
