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Cockroach Eggs

Cockroach Eggs: The Facts by Species!

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There are five common pest cockroaches among those numerous cockroach species that most people tend to come across in their lifetime. These are German cockroaches, American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, Smoky-brown cockroaches, and Brown-banded cockroaches.

In this article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about those species’ eggs, from their appearance to how you can get rid of them. So, let’s dive in, shall we?

How To Identify The Different Cockroach Types

Every cockroach species has physical characteristics that can help you identify it. However, you can’t depend on what the cockroach eggs look like for identification as they can be hard to see and accurately recognize. Accordingly, we’ll explain the appearance of each species’ eggs and adult forms to help you correctly identify your home invader.

German

Adult German cockroaches are on the smaller side of the species, ranging from 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch in length. They have a generally light brown/tan color with two dark stripes starting at the back of their heads. Even though German cockroaches do have well-developed wings, they don’t fly.

You may sometimes come across these roaches in their nymph form (aka young cockroaches), where they tend to be darker than their adult counterparts and with undeveloped wings.

Meanwhile, the eggs of all cockroaches have encased within a very tough, pill-like structure called an ootheca. Those laid by female German cockroaches are usually small, coming up to 1/4 of an inch lengthwise, with the width being less than half its length. Typically, German cockroach egg cases tend to look like a purse with a light brown color, which can make them very hard to see.

American

The average adult American cockroach is much larger than the German cockroach, typically measuring up to 2 inches lengthwise and having a width ranging from 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch. Generally, American cockroaches come in various shades and colors, from medium or dark brown to reddish-brown.

Despite their large size, American cockroaches can fly. Moreover, they scurry pretty quickly, making them very hard to kill.

Their nymph form is the same as their adult one, smaller and without wings. Meanwhile, American cockroach eggs are likewise enclosed within an ootheca bigger than those of the German ones. An American cockroach egg case is 3/8 of an inch long and 1/4 of an inch wide, and you’ll usually find it sticking to the surface it was placed on it.

Initially, American cockroach eggs had a medium brown color when first laid by an adult female American cockroach. However, they rapidly darken to an almost black color after a couple of days.

Brown-Banded

Similar to German cockroaches, Brown-banded cockroaches are also about 1/2″ long. They’re dark brown, with two characteristic light brown bands that decorate the adult’s wings and the nymph’s bodies.

A male brown-banded cockroach is lighter than the females and able to fly. However, the darker female cockroaches of this species have underdeveloped wings that prevent them from taking flight. In addition, this species has yellowish egg sacs averaging 1/4 of an inch or even smaller.

Smoky-Brown

A Smoky-brown cockroach has a uniform, dark brown color, similar to mahogany wood. Their egg sacs tend to be longer than all the previous species, generally reaching lengths close to half an inch.

Oriental

Oriental cockroaches have differing sizes for each gender, with the females being much larger than the males. They both come in a dark color teetering on black. While the males have wings and the females don’t, both can’t fly. Meanwhile, their egg sacs are dark brown/reddish and can reach up to half an inch in length.

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How Many Eggs Does Each Species Lay?

German

German cockroaches lay anywhere from 30 to 48 eggs, arranged in two rows in the egg sac. Generally, German female cockroaches will hold on to the sac until the eggs are close to hatching, only letting go a day or two before the event comes to pass. Female German cockroaches can repeat this process seven more times, meaning that a single female German cockroach can produce anywhere from 240 to 284 new cockroaches before dying.

American

After mating, Female American cockroaches will lay up to 10 egg sacs in their life, with the ability to produce one per month. Typically, the females will carry the ootheca, containing 12-18 eggs, for a few days before deciding to put it in a safe place. Now, even though the total number is less than that of German cockroach eggs, this species tends to take longer to grow and develop, resulting in overall longer lifespans.

Brown-Banded

Each brown-banded cockroach can lay about 13-14 cockroach oothecae, with 14-17 eggs per sac. However, not all eggs usually make it, with only 12 progressing to the nymph stage. Ordinarily, the females produce an ootheca, hold on to it for a day or two, then stick it to a rough surface, leaving it to hatch after 50 days pass.

Smokey-Brown

A Smokey-brown female cockroach can lay between an average of 10 egg cases, with about 20 eggs inside. However, the maximum number of egg sacs a female can produce is 32.

Oriental

Like German cockroaches, a female Oriental cockroach produces eight egg cases in its lifetime, each holding about 16 eggs within it. This amazingly results in 260 new roaches from a single female cockroach.

How Much Time Does The Cockroach Egg Take To Hatch?

German

After a female German cockroach lays its ootheca, it takes about 28 days for the eggs to hatch into nymphs. The nymphs then grow into fully-formed adult roaches in the space of 100 days after molting 6 or 7 times.

American

Since an American cockroach egg is generally more significant than the other species, it takes longer for the cockroach babies to develop and hatch. Typically, the eggs hatch in 8 weeks or so, but it can take a bit longer than that, depending on the surrounding conditions. Before becoming an adult, the baby cockroaches have to molt from 6 to 14 over 600 days.

Brown-Banded

The eggs of the Brown-banded species have an incubation period ranging from 37 to 103 days, depending on the temperature of the environment in which the eggs were placed. The Brown-banded nymphs will reach adulthood after molting eight times, which can take 5-6 months to complete.

Smoky-Brown

Alternatively, the cockroach eggs of the Smoky-brown species take anywhere from 50-80 days to hatch. This is followed by the nymphs transforming into adults after the passage of 9-10 months.

Oriental

Finally, Oriental cockroach eggs take about two months (app. 50 days) to hatch into developing nymphs. Ordinarily, this time period to adulthood may range anywhere from 300 to 800 days.

Where To Find Roach Eggs?

Finding cockroach eggs can be challenging unless you know where to look. Commonly, cockroaches lay eggs in little nooks and crannies that are dark, warm, and moist. So, anywhere in your house to which these criteria apply, you’ll be able to find roaches and, occasionally, their eggs too.

Sometimes, you may not be able to find living cockroaches as they tend to scurry away once you approach. However, you can easily find evidence of cockroach activity, such as roach feces, shed skin, a musty smell, and even a couple of dead cockroaches.

Still, every species has its preferences regarding the place they like to lay their eggs. Some prefer the indoors while others prefer the outdoors. So, let’s look at what each roach species prefers to help you find those eggs.

German

German cockroaches prefer warm and humid areas with easy access to food and water. As such, your kitchen and bathroom should be the first place you should look for an egg case. Look behind the sinks, beneath furniture and refrigerators, inside cabinets; you get the idea.

You may even find them inside your bathtub, pipes, drains, and trash cans. Storage areas with lots of cardboard boxes and clothes are also an excellent place for you to find German cockroach eggs.

Still, remember that while other species deposit their egg sacs after a few days, German cockroaches hold on to theirs until the eggs are close to hatching. Some eggs even hatch while the mother is still carrying them. Accordingly, you’ll usually be able to find the eggs as long as you find the adult cockroaches.

American

While American roaches can survive outdoors, they also prefer areas close to food and water, especially when the outside weather isn’t that great. As such, you’ll find an American cockroach ootheca in kitchens, pantries, and bathrooms. You can also find American cockroach egg cases in attics, woodpiles, garbage, and compost cans.

Brown-Banded

The Brown-banded cockroach is another common indoor cockroach species that like to stick its eggs onto rough surfaces. As such, you can find Brown-banded cockroach eggs inside your home adhered to cardboard boxes or hidden among the sand. Moreover, if the roach infestation is severe, you’ll find the egg capsules taking the form of a cluster.

Smoky-Brown

Smoky-brown cockroaches lay eggs in humid cracks and fissures to give their offspring the best chance at survival. So, you’ll find their egg capsule under woodpiles, rocks, and other rubble.

Oriental

The Oriental roach eggs can be found indoors and outdoors in warm, humid, sheltered spaces. Accordingly, you’ll find the eggs inside garages, basements, and bathroom drains as well as near trash, compost, and damp woodpiles.

How To Kill Cockroach Eggs?

We all know that a cockroach infestation isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a severe problem. That’s why it’s imperative to kill all adults and prevent the eggs from completing their life cycle before it’s too late. So, how to go about killing the common cockroach?

Vacuum Them Up

For starters, get a powerful vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum up all cockroach life cycle forms you see, from cockroach babies to adults. The filter will reduce cockroach debris, and the vacuum will suck up the roaches and their eggs, ensuring proper roach control.

Use Pesticides

If crushing roach eggs puts you off, using traps and insecticides will be your best option. For one, an insect growth regulator will stop baby roaches from eventually reproducing.

Additionally, placing boric acid, foggers, dust, gels, and sticky traps wherever you find cockroaches will effectively kill both adults and nymphs. However, an egg case is very resilient to these pesticides, meaning you can’t damage its occupants until they hatch.

Call Pest Control

If your roach problem is severe, it’s best to have the professionals deal with the issue. Once they’re finished, ensure proper sanitation and hygiene to prevent re-infestation.

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Conclusion

Cockroach eggs are never a welcome sight, as this means you’ve got a roach nest somewhere in your home. Sadly, since cockroaches hide so well, finding every egg before it begins its cockroach life cycle can be near impossible.

Still, whatever species is bothering you, be it German or American cockroaches, you can eliminate them as long as you know their appearance and where to find them. So, we hope this article will help you eliminate those little pests, and don’t forget to call pest control if the problem is too severe.

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