Do roaches fly?

Some species of roaches fly, while others don't. Some roaches can fly briefly, while others can only glide. Even roaches that have wings are not necessarily capable of flight.

Examples of flying roaches include male Pennsylvania woods cockroaches, smoky brown cockroaches, Asian cockroaches, Cuban cockroaches and Australian cockroaches. American cockroaches are the most common species that people in North America find in their homes. These roaches have wings they use to glide from elevated surfaces to the ground. Adult German cockroaches have wings but cannot fly. Roaches generally prefer to live outdoors in warm climates. However, when food supplies are short, they venture into people's homes.