Can roaches see you?

Answered by Willie Powers

Oh boy, let me tell you about roaches and their amazing eyesight. It’s pretty mind-blowing, to be honest. You see, roaches can definitely see us humans, and that’s why they scurry away when we come near. It’s like they have this built-in fear response when they lay eyes on us.

Now, let’s talk about their eyes. The eyes of a cockroach are truly fascinating. They have what’s called a compound lens, which is made up of over 2,000 tiny lenses. These mini lenses, also known as ommatidia, are actually photoreceptors that allow the roach to see in complete darkness. Isn’t that incredible?

Because of their compound eyes, roaches have a pretty wide field of vision. They can see in multiple directions at once, giving them a 360-degree view of their surroundings. So, when you think you’re sneaking up on them, they probably see you coming from a mile away. It’s like they have their own little surveillance system going on.

Now, I have to admit, it can be a bit creepy to think that these little critters can see us so well. But hey, at least we have the upper hand in terms of size and intelligence, right? Plus, their fear of humans is actually a good thing. It means they’ll likely scurry away and try to find a hiding spot when they spot us, which is a win for us.

So, the next time you see a cockroach running away from you, just remember that they’re not doing it out of politeness. They can actually see you coming and are just trying to avoid any potential danger. It’s all thanks to those incredible compound eyes of theirs.