I had the most interesting time last weekend on account of my grand-daughter staying over.
My son had come with his wife and daughter to visit me, and although they went back, my granddaughter requested to extend her vacation. Being only five years old, she loved running around the garden, playing with the dogs, and helping me with my chores.
But one day, I had a truly unforgettable experience.
I’ve several cardboard boxes piled up in the attic, which I had meant to clean for some time. My grand-daughter stumbled across these boxes, when she discovered something.
Full of energy, she ran downstairs, took my hand, and asked me to come with her. When I followed her, I found that inside one of the boxes were tiny reddish-brown cockroach eggs. My immediate concern was to sanitize her hands because cockroaches carry diseases; however, I was taken aback by her question.
“Granny, how many eggs does a cockroach lay?” I had no answer but decided to find out, helping quench my grand-daughter’s thirst for knowledge.
Hi! I’m Stacy Smith, and today I’ll tell you the answer and everything else about cockroaches.
How Many Eggs Does A Cockroach Lay?
Different Types Of Cockroaches
I’ll start by discussing the different varieties of cockroaches, since the life cycle varies for each species. And I’ve narrowed down the essential characteristics of the three most common species below.
1. German Cockroach
German Cockroaches measure 13-16mm in length, having a pale brown coloration. You can identify them, thanks to two dark-brown stripes running down the back of their head. Although they live for less than 200 days, they produce more eggs than any other cockroach species.
2. American Cockroach
The American Cockroach is one of the largest cockroach species in the animal world, with adults growing 53mm long. Compared to German Cockroaches, this species has a darker reddish-brown color, complete with yellow bands on the back of the head.
Now, if you see a cockroach flying across the room, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s the American Cockroach. Both male and female roaches have wings, allowing them to fly short distances.
They live for slightly less than two years, nesting near food products.
3. Oriental Cockroach
Oriental Cockroaches have a glossy appearance, imparting a shiny luster to their dark-brown bodies. The females measure 32mm while male cockroaches are smaller, measuring 25mm. However, neither can fly, making them slightly easier to deal with.
Overall they have a lifespan of six months, feeding on organic matter and producing quite a few eggs before they die.
Life Cycle Of Cockroaches
It was important to discuss the lifespan of different cockroach species, providing an idea about their reproduction frequency.
As I mentioned earlier, German Cockroaches lay the most number of eggs ranging between 20 and 40, with the incubation period lasting 28 days. Not only do they lay more eggs, but they reproduce faster, making it difficult to keep your home cockroach-free. A female German Cockroach will produce four to five ootheca in its lifetime, which is close to 200 offspring.
Now, the American Cockroach lays only 16 eggs at a time and has a longer incubation period of 44 days. However, the female cockroach produces 14 ootheca during her lifespan, giving birth to 224 offspring.
As for Oriental Cockroaches, they can only survive in specific temperatures, usually ranging between 68 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in cold climates where the mercury dips below 59 degrees Fahrenheit, the female cockroach won’t be able to lay eggs.
Given the right conditions, the female Oriental Cockroach lays 16 eggs with an incubation period of 60 days. Overall, this species produces eight ootheca, which is 128 offspring, in a short time span.
How To Remove Cockroaches?
Having learned about the life cycle and average offspring produced by each species, it’s evident that you can’t allow cockroaches to reproduce. So, what steps can you take to remove these unwanted pests?
1. Clean Your Home
The best way to deal with any pest, especially cockroaches, is to clean your home thoroughly. Like me, don’t leave empty cardboard boxes lying around the house. Dispose of them if you don’t need so many boxes, or put them in storage.
Similarly, it’s a poor habit to leave dirty dishes in the sink. Cockroaches are attracted to leftover food, so regularly cleaning the kitchenware is essential. It’s also important to dust and vacuum under your furniture, washing machine, and other small spaces where cockroaches can crawl into.
2. Cockroach Baits
You can go to the market and buy cockroach baits which are useful for several reasons. They look like food, but actually, the bait contains insecticides inside. When the cockroach eats it, the reaction doesn’t take place immediately. Rather the cockroach dies after making it back to the nest, killing off other roaches as well.
- COCKROACH CONTROL: Advion Cockroach gel bait from Syngenta is a high-performing bait product targeting many pest species of cockroaches including German, American and gel bait-averse cockroaches. It’s formulated with 0.6% indoxacarb, which is a potent, non-repellent active ingredient used for trusted pest control.
- VERSATILE USAGE: Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Thanks to its targeted MetaActive effect that differentiates between target insects and non-target organisms, it’s highly unlikely to negatively affect people or pets.
- HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE FORMULATION: Advion Cockroach has a high-consumption bait matrix with ingredients that attract roaches to feed. Once consumed, treated cockroaches transfer the bait to as many as 40 other cockroaches, aiding in control of the infestation in as little as 24 hours.
- Quick Kill Formula – Your secret weapon against roaches! Starts working as soon as roaches feed on the bait - killing the ones you see and the owns you don’t.
- Eliminates the nest – Roaches take the bait back to the nest, killing other roaches and destroying the nest.
- Protects your home – Child resistant bait stations provide continuous maximum roach control for up to 12 months.
3. Liquid Concentrates
If you’re looking for a quick solution to remove cockroaches, then liquid concentrates are your best bet. You can spray this liquid solution into cracks and tiny spaces while wiping the surface with it.
4. Cockroach Traps
Like mouse traps, you can also buy cockroach traps from the store. They consist of a bait to attract roaches, which get caught in a sticky substance when they venture too close. The key to success with cockroach traps is staying patient, as it may take several weeks to see results.
5. Boric Acid
Boric acid works as a homemade pesticide. All you need to do is make a dough comprising flour, sugar, and boric acid in equal amounts. It works like cockroach baits, poisoning roaches when they come to eat.
- Long Lasting - Continues to kill roaches, palmetto bugs, water bugs and silverfish for weeks after application as long as it's kept dry
- Fast Acting - Insects coming into contact with the powder will die within 72 hours after initial contact
- Easy Application - The puffer bottle makes application quick and simple for difficult to reach areas
- PROVEN PEST CONTROL: Eliminates roaches, ants, and other labeled insects with a simple and effective boric acid formula
- LOW HAZARD FORMULA: Contains low-risk boric acid powder, making it a safer option for use around the home
- USER-FRIENDLY APPLICATION: Comes in an easy-to-use puffer bottle for precise and mess-free application
Final Words
That’s all my information regarding cockroaches, the number of eggs they lay, and how to remove them.
This wasn’t one of my usual gardening guides, but hopefully, you found it interesting all the same. Stay safe and keep your home cockroach-free, thereby preventing health issues.
Until next time, bye!