What Noises Do Cockroaches Make?

I’ve heard a strange clicking coming from behind the baseboards. Do cockroaches make a sound when they’re moving around or communicating?

Yes, certain cockroach species make audible sounds, but with most common household roaches, what you're actually hearing is scuttling, scratching, or rustling against surfaces in the dark. That noise is usually their spiny legs striking hard surfaces, working like tiny drumsticks as they travel.

A few species can also make specific sounds to communicate—though none of them live in the US. The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, for example, produces a distinct hiss by forcing air through its respiratory openings, yet it isn't a species you'll find scurrying through American homes. The roaches you're likely to encounter here stick to the faint clicks and rustles of movement rather than any true call.

Since roaches are nocturnal, these sounds are frequently the first red flag for homeowners. If your house is quiet enough for you to hear them, the population has likely grown large enough to make them bold—and that rustling in your pantry may well be roaches on the move.

If you hear something and you're concerned, professional cockroach control could be the answer. Contact Gregory Pest Solutions for a free inspection.