Why do cockroaches run from light?

Answer: They are avoiding predators

Light hurts their eyes — Wrong. Cockroaches' eyes aren't damaged by light. They avoid it because darkness provides safety from predators—it's survival behavior, not physical sensitivity.

Following ancient instincts — Wrong. The behavior is instinctive, but there's a clear survival reason: cockroaches evolved to avoid light because predators hunt in daylight. Darkness = safety.

They are avoiding predators ✓ — Correct! Cockroaches are nocturnal and evolved to avoid predators by hiding in darkness. Light means danger—potential predators nearby. When you flip a light, they scatter to find dark hiding spots. This behavior kept their ancestors alive for 300+ million years!