Facts About Cockroaches

German Cockroach

German cockroaches grow to 1/2-5/8 inches long when matured, are light brown to tan in color, and have fully developed wings. The shield-like segment located behind the head has two dark parallel bars on it.

A baby German cockroach, or “German cockroach nymph” is 1/8-inch-long in size when they emerge from their egg capsule. They are almost uniformly dark, with the exception of a light tan area on the back of the second and third segments.

German cockroach eggs are light brown colour and are 1/4-3/4 inches long. Typically, each egg capsule has 15 to 20 eggs per side.

Order/Family

Blattodea/Blattellidae

Scientific Name

Blattella germanica

German Cockroach Facts

During her lifetime, the female German cockroach produces four to eight egg capsules, each containing 30 to 40 eggs. Approximately one to two days before hatching, she drops the egg capsule in a sheltered area.

Other interesting cockroach facts include: A German cockroach nymph (again, a baby German cockroach) molts six to seven times before becoming an adult. This requires about 103 days, thus allowing three to four generations per year. Adults can live up to 100 to 200 days.

Behaviour

German cockroaches typically infest kitchens and bathrooms, but will live anywhere inside heated structures with readily-accessible food, water, and harbourage. German cockroaches gain access to structures in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, and infested equipment such as used refrigerators, toasters, microwaves, etc.

They are most active at night, leaving their harbourage areas to find food and water.

Control

An effective cockroach program depends on diligent sanitation to eliminate excess food, water and harbourage areas. The use of gel baits and dust are the most effect means of control. Glue traps are helpful, but are seen more as monitoring devices than a control tactic. A thorough vacuuming of harbourage areas is also beneficial in neutralizing cockroach populations by destroying German cockroach eggs. As you recall from the cockroach facts section, German cockroaches lay eggs aggressively and require aggressive treatment to get rid of.