What type of mouthparts do roaches possess?

Roaches possess chewing mouthparts, which are adapted for breaking down solid food into smaller pieces that can be digested. This type of mouthpart allows cockroaches to consume a wide variety of organic materials, including decaying plant matter, food scraps, and even other insects.

The structure of their mouthparts includes mandibles that can effectively grasp and manipulate food, making them efficient scavengers in their environments. Chewing mouthparts are typical in many insects that feed on solid food sources, as they require robust mechanisms to process their diet.

In contrast, the other options refer to different types of mouthparts that serve specific functions. Biting mouthparts might imply a more aggressive feeding behavior that isn't characteristic of roaches, while sucking mouthparts are adapted for extracting liquids, which does not apply to roaches. Chewing/piercing mouthparts are typically found in insects that need to pierce tissues, such as blood-sucking pests, which do not describe cockroaches' feeding habits. Thus, the correct identification of roaches having chewing mouthparts highlights their generalist feeding strategy and ecological role as scavengers.