diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/ai/pet_commands.dm b/code/__DEFINES/ai/pet_commands.dm
index 1e692b9f805..7404cb9acda 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/ai/pet_commands.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/ai/pet_commands.dm
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@
 #define BB_PET_TARGETING_STRATEGY "BB_pet_targeting"
 /// Typecache of weakrefs to mobs this mob is friends with, will follow their instructions and won't attack them
 #define BB_FRIENDS_LIST "BB_friends_list"
+
+///mothroach next meal key!
+#define BB_MOTHROACH_NEXT_EAT "mothroach_next_eat"
diff --git a/code/datums/elements/basic_eating.dm b/code/datums/elements/basic_eating.dm
index 92b303c9be2..4f4f493e0ef 100644
--- a/code/datums/elements/basic_eating.dm
+++ b/code/datums/elements/basic_eating.dm
@@ -93,4 +93,5 @@
 	if(isstack(target)) //if stack, only consume 1
 		var/obj/item/stack/food_stack = target
 		final_target = food_stack.split_stack(eater, 1)
+	eater.log_message("has eaten [target]!", LOG_ATTACK)
 	qdel(final_target)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach.dm
similarity index 88%
rename from code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach.dm
rename to code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach.dm
index 4c06665a14a..a0079065de4 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach.dm
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 
 /mob/living/basic/mothroach/Initialize(mapload)
 	. = ..()
+	var/static/list/food_types = list(/obj/item/clothing)
+	AddElement(/datum/element/basic_eating, food_types = food_types)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_FOODS, typecacheof(food_types))
+	AddElement(/datum/element/ai_retaliate)
 	AddElement(/datum/element/pet_bonus, "squeaks happily!")
 	add_verb(src, /mob/living/proc/toggle_resting)
 	ADD_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_VENTCRAWLER_ALWAYS, INNATE_TRAIT)
@@ -64,16 +68,6 @@
 	else
 		playsound(loc, 'sound/voice/moth/scream_moth.ogg', 50, TRUE)
 
-/datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/mothroach
-	blackboard = list()
-
-	ai_traits = STOP_MOVING_WHEN_PULLED
-	ai_movement = /datum/ai_movement/basic_avoidance
-	idle_behavior = /datum/idle_behavior/idle_random_walk
-	planning_subtrees = list(
-		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/random_speech/mothroach,
-	)
-
 /mob/living/basic/mothroach/bar
 	name = "mothroach bartender"
 	desc = "A mothroach serving drinks. Look at him go."
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach_ai.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach_ai.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5ef330cdc64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mothroach/mothroach_ai.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#define MOTHROACH_EAT_TIMER 1 MINUTES
+
+/datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/mothroach
+	blackboard = list(
+		BB_FLEE_TARGETING_STRATEGY = /datum/targeting_strategy/basic,
+		BB_TARGETING_STRATEGY = /datum/targeting_strategy/basic/allow_items,
+	)
+
+	ai_traits = STOP_MOVING_WHEN_PULLED
+	ai_movement = /datum/ai_movement/basic_avoidance
+	idle_behavior = /datum/idle_behavior/idle_random_walk
+	planning_subtrees = list(
+		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/find_food/mothroach,
+		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/target_retaliate/to_flee,
+		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/flee_target/from_flee_key,
+		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/basic_melee_attack_subtree,
+		/datum/ai_planning_subtree/random_speech/mothroach,
+	)
+
+/datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/mothroach/TryPossessPawn(atom/new_pawn)
+	. = ..()
+	if(. & AI_CONTROLLER_INCOMPATIBLE)
+		return
+	RegisterSignal(new_pawn, COMSIG_MOB_ATE, PROC_REF(on_eaten))
+
+/datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/mothroach/proc/on_eaten(datum/source)
+	SIGNAL_HANDLER
+	set_blackboard_key(BB_MOTHROACH_NEXT_EAT, world.time + MOTHROACH_EAT_TIMER)
+
+/datum/ai_planning_subtree/find_food/mothroach/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
+	if(world.time < controller.blackboard[BB_MOTHROACH_NEXT_EAT])
+		return
+	return ..()
+
+#undef MOTHROACH_EAT_TIMER
diff --git a/code/modules/vending/wardrobes.dm b/code/modules/vending/wardrobes.dm
index 7df148e28db..44892713926 100644
--- a/code/modules/vending/wardrobes.dm
+++ b/code/modules/vending/wardrobes.dm
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(roaches_deployed, FALSE)
+#define MOTHROACH_START_CHANCE 5
+#define MAX_MOTHROACH_AMOUNT 3
+
 /obj/item/vending_refill/wardrobe
 	icon_state = "refill_clothes"
 
@@ -8,6 +12,29 @@
 	panel_type = "panel19"
 	light_mask = "wardrobe-light-mask"
 
+/obj/machinery/vending/wardrobe/Initialize(mapload)
+	. = ..()
+	if(!mapload)
+		return
+	if(GLOB.roaches_deployed || !is_station_level(z) || !prob(MOTHROACH_START_CHANCE))
+		return
+	for(var/count in 1 to rand(1, MAX_MOTHROACH_AMOUNT))
+		new /mob/living/basic/mothroach(src)
+	GLOB.roaches_deployed = TRUE
+
+
+/obj/machinery/vending/wardrobe/on_dispense(obj/item/clothing/food)
+	if(!istype(food))
+		return
+	for(var/mob/living/basic/mothroach/roach in contents)
+		food.take_damage(food.get_integrity() * 0.5)
+
+/obj/machinery/vending/wardrobe/take_damage(damage_amount, damage_type = BRUTE, damage_flag = 0, sound_effect = 1, attack_dir)
+	. = ..()
+	for(var/mob/living/basic/mothroach/roach in contents)
+		roach.ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_FLEE_TARGET, src) //scatter away!
+		roach.forceMove(drop_location())
+
 /obj/machinery/vending/wardrobe/sec_wardrobe
 	name = "\improper SecDrobe"
 	desc = "A vending machine for security and security-related clothing!"
@@ -706,3 +733,6 @@
 /obj/item/vending_refill/wardrobe/cent_wardrobe
 	machine_name = "CentDrobe"
 	light_color = LIGHT_COLOR_ELECTRIC_GREEN
+
+#undef MOTHROACH_START_CHANCE
+#undef MAX_MOTHROACH_AMOUNT
diff --git a/tgstation.dme b/tgstation.dme
index af3ba887086..a9de34c4ece 100644
--- a/tgstation.dme
+++ b/tgstation.dme
@@ -5046,9 +5046,10 @@
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\crab.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\frog.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\lizard.dm"
-#include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\mothroach.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\mouse.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\space_bat.dm"
+#include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\mothroach\mothroach.dm"
+#include "code\modules\mob\living\basic\vermin\mothroach\mothroach_ai.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\brain\brain.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\brain\brain_cybernetic.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\living\brain\brain_item.dm"