Cockroaches scurrying in our homes are bad enough to create a panic, but now imagine cockroaches laying eggs in your house!
Yep, as disgusting and nightmarish it sounds, this is actually how a roach infestation begins.
And even though there are now many remedies available to eliminate this problem, you first need to understand what exactly you are dealing with, and this article is here to help you do that.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about cockroaches’ eggs and how to get rid of them.
What Does Cockroach Eggs Look Like?
Cockroaches lay multiple eggs at a time, and these eggs are all inside a single casing known as ‘ootheca.’
The egg capsules are usually dark-brown to reddish-brown in color and range from 5 to 14 mm long, depending on the species of cockroach you are dealing with.
Despite what some people believe, cockroaches’ egg cases can be spotted and seen with naked eyes.
However, they can sometimes be overlooked because they are glued to or deposited in hidden places that are not easily visible to us, like under wooden furniture, behind photo frames, etc.
Finding an egg case is a sign of infestation in the home.
American Cockroach Eggs
One of the most common cockroach species is the American cockroach; they prefer warm and damp places and usually enter houses to find water and food.
Female American cockroaches, during reproduction, create shielding cases for their eggs.
These cases are shaped like capsules that are deposited by the female cockroaches in a humid, warm area.
An average American cockroach egg case contains about 16 to 17 eggs, and when they hatch, tiny nymphs come out of these capsules.
The cockroaches emerge from eggs in 6–8 weeks and need 6–12 months to mature.
These egg cases are about 35-38 mm long; they are dark-colored—blackish or reddish-brown.
People usually find these egg sacks in basements, kitchens or laundry rooms, under cabinets or appliances, etc.
American cockroaches also deposit their eggs behind stored items in sheds and garages.
German Cockroach Eggs
The German cockroach is another concerning pest that reproduces very quickly and efficiently.
The female carries the developing eggs inside the capsule and deposits the capsule right before the eggs hatch.
A German cockroach’s ootheca is brown-red in color and mostly measures between 6 to 9 mm in length.
The female cockroach carries around the ootheca until the eggs inside it are ready to hatch.
After depositing the egg sack, the females can start producing more eggs in a couple of weeks.
One single ootheca can accommodate up to 50 nymphs.
Female German cockroaches can usually produce between 4 and 9 egg capsules in a lifetime and for an egg to develop into an adult usually takes up to 103 days on average.
Because German cockroaches can produce multiple egg sacks containing large numbers of eggs, populations can grow rapidly in a relatively short period.
A typical German cockroach infestation will contain around 75% of nymphs in the population.
FAQ About Cockroach Eggs
What Is A Cockroach Egg Case?
Cockroach egg case, also known as oothecae is a protective outer shell that protects the nymphs inside.
Oothecae hold numerous eggs that are encompassed by a protein substance that slowly hardens into a protective, strong casing.
What Is The Size of A Cockroach Egg?
The size of an average cockroach egg case is approximately 0.9cm. It’s brownish-red in color and is long-shaped like a dry kidney bean.
Depending on the species of the cockroach, an egg case contains between 16 – 50 eggs.
How Long Does It Take For Cockroach Eggs To Hatch?
An average cockroach egg takes 7-8 weeks before they hatch, and the nymphs grow big enough to leave.
While some female cockroaches drop the egg case after producing them, other species carry it until they are ready to hatch.
Where Do Cockroaches Lay Their Eggs?
Female cockroaches usually deposit their egg sacks in protected locations away from the sight of humans, like crevices and corners of your house.
You might typically find them in your bathroom corners and kitchen, under your pipes and near your sinks, behind refrigerators, and pantry, etc.
What Kills Roaches And Their Eggs?
There are many remedies available to kill roaches and their eggs.
While there are some home DIY solutions that you can use like diatomaceous earth, baking soda, essential oils, etc. there are chemicals specifically manufactured to deal with this problem effectively.
However, in case of a severe roach infestation, it is always advised to hire professionals who are aptly prepared to deal with such nuisances.
Exterminate Cockroach Eggs with Professional Pest Control
Irrespective of whether its American or German, the presence of cockroach eggs in your home is a sure sign of a growing roach infestation.
While there are various methods which can be adopted to deal with this problem, it is always recommended to hire a licensed exterminator who could handle the infestation more efficiently and permanently.
To help you with this, we have curated a personalized Pest Control form that will give you free quotes from multiple exterminators so that you can hire a professional who is worth your money, time, and effort.
And don’t worry, all the information that you mention is 100% safe here! Also, by filling the form, at least you’ll know how much you will have to pay if you take the help of your local exterminators.
Final Words
The fact that you have cockroach eggs in your house is a wake-up call for you because this means that there is a chance of a major infestation
Getting rid of an infestation is sometimes much harder than it looks because it usually consists of innumerable tiny roaches still in the growth phase, and therefore eliminating them gets that much more difficult.
Hence, it is better to make sure that you don’t let the situation escalate and take all the necessary precautions to keep this problem at bay and away from your house.
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