Introduction – Is There a Tiny Zombie Infesting Your Home?

You’ve discovered something disgusting and honestly – kind of creepy on the floor. It’s a roach, which is bad, very bad. But this one… this one is white. Like a mutant. A mistake of nature. Or some kind of cockroach nightmare. It’s an albino cockroach, or at least that’s what comes to mind.

Whatever it is, is it dangerous? Should you be concerned? What should you do? Let’s look at white roaches, where they come from, and what it really means when you spot one in your home.

What are White Roaches?

So, what is a white roach? Let’s begin with what white roaches aren’t. They’re not a separate species. They’re not technically albino. And though you may not have seen one before, they’re not rare – not in the slightest.

White cockroaches are not a different species.

What they are, are roaches in transition- regular, everyday roaches in the middle of a process called a molt. And what’s a molt? It’s an important part of the cockroach life cycle – the way they become bigger, badder cockroaches.

How Creepy White Cockroaches Turn into Nasty Brown Ones

Like other insects, roaches don’t have bones to support their bodies. Instead, they rely on a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton to do the job. But exoskeletons don’t grow the way bones do, and maturing cockroaches eventually outgrow them.

When that happens, cockroaches grow a replacement. A new exoskeleton develops beneath the old one, and the old exoskeleton is shed. That process is known as a molt and roaches are white each time it happens. Depending on the species, cockroaches will go through 5 to 14 molts as they mature – growing larger, more destructive, and closer to mating capability with each one.

Why Haven’t I Seen More of Them?

You’re unlikely to have seen an “albino roach” before because of the way cockroaches behave during a molt. With all their muscles attached to a temporarily squishy exoskeleton (Imagine all your bones turning into rubber occasionally-how well could you move?), white roaches can’t move very fast. And during this period of time their soft shells make them easy to attack.

Though not rare, you’re unlikely to see very many white roaches.

This level of vulnerability makes them extra cautious, which is why you don’t see them very often. When ready to molt, they seek out shelter to avoid being eaten or injured and stay there for the few minutes or few hours it takes their exoskeleton to harden and darken. And it’s usually only sometime after that – when they look like regular roaches again – that you’ll see them scurrying across your kitchen or bathroom floor.

Are White Roaches Dangerous?

White roaches may look more sinister than other roaches, but no – they aren’t. They aren’t known to bite and don’t have stingers.

That being said, here’s the scary truth about white cockroaches: Like other roaches, they can carry disease. And their shed exoskeletons, feces, and egg cases cause and worsen both asthma and allergies.

So you definitely don’t want a white roach, or any other roach, in your pantry, on your kitchen counter, or anywhere else inside your home.

If I’ve Seen One in My Home, What Does it Mean?

Discovering an “albino roach” on a floor or in a cupboard means a few things, none of which should be taken lightly. As mentioned, like other cockroaches, white roaches signal potential danger in the form of allergic reactions, asthma attacks and food poisoning. So that’s for starters.

If you see a white roach, you also know that unless another roach has eaten it, there’s a shed exoskeleton somewhere nearby, possibly harboring disease. And since cockroaches congregate, there are sure to be more roaches in your home, along with more feces, more shed exoskeletons, and probably egg cases in the vicinity. It’s quite possible that cockroaches have been in your food, potentially depositing bacteria, viruses, parasites, mold, and/or fungi that could make you sick.

And keep this gruesome fact in mind:

Because white roaches take the trouble to hide so well, and you’re much less likely to see them than other roaches, what you’re seeing is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. There are probably many more roaches than you imagined, and you may even have a full-blown infestation on your hands.

Next Steps

Spotting an albino roach isn’t a curiosity. It’s a wake-up call. You’ll need to immediately hunt down their shelter areas and start pest control.

Spotting an albino cockroach isn’t a curiosity. It’s a wake-up call.

There are many ways to manage pests on your own, but if this is a true infestation, the smart choice would be to call a pest control company right away. They are specially trained in roach control and have years of experience managing pest situations just like yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Written by Andrew Martin. Reviewed by James Miksanek, PhD.

Disclaimer: This page is strictly for informational use. When using insecticides, keep in mind—the label is the law. Insecticides should be applied correctly and safely when needed, and according to the laws of your state or country.