Have you felt an unfamiliar insect crawl up your skin as you slept and shrieked in panic?
You are not alone.
The heavy aversion you feel is scientifically called Katsaridaphobia and is a VERY common feeling among house owners.
Important Note: If you're tired of pests and want a reliable solution, then you should definitely consider seeking help from a professional pest control company. DIY solutions can be effective, but if you're dealing with a significant pest infestation, you don't want to rely solely on DIY methods. Pest control companies typically don't charge huge fees. You can fill out this form to receive free quotes from the top local pest control companies, and compare the quotes and see for yourself. Then, finally, your pest problems will be eliminated for good.
Most humans feel disgusted, scared, or downright queasy in the presence of critters, absolutely hating their oily, shiny bodies.
A cockroach has three stages during its life cycle: egg, nymph, and adult. A cockroach infestation becomes uncontrolled if you don’t eradicate the roach eggs.
Read on to find out everything about baby roaches and their not-so-cute behavior.
Cockroach Eggs: Origin
Female cockroaches lay egg capsules, known as ootheca, which hold numerous roach eggs and are nested in a gooey protein that hardens with time and converts into a thick, bulky receptacle.
The mother cockroach either protects the complex cases by supporting them until the babies are born or dumps the intricate nest, depending on the species.
How Many Eggs Can a Cockroach Produce Each Year?
German cockroaches are the most abundant species on the planet.
Considering their sheer number, they have a higher egg production rate than most other cockroach species and a higher rate than most of the typical household species of cockroaches.
In fact, a single female German cockroach and her offspring can produce up to 30,000 new cockroaches each year!
This is every homeowner’s worst nightmare.
This ongoing birth cycle is why just a few small roaches can quickly turn into a cockroach infestation if you are not careful.
A German female cockroach that continues to produce and hatch eggs over her 30-week lifespan can spawn two different generations.
The math is simple.
A German cockroach can bring at least 10,000 new cockroaches to life within a year.
What Do Cockroach Eggs Look Like?
A female cockroach prefers to lay her eggs in humid and warm areas of the home, such as the kitchen or bathroom.
Such a climate is suitable for the roach eggs and ensures complete safety from humans or other pests.
About 40 of these roaches’ eggs are enclosed in a light brown colored, quarter-inch-long ootheca.
Under favorable conditions, females can be EXTREMELY efficient and churn out a new egg capsule every few weeks.
The mother cockroach carries the capsule until a day or two before it hatches, depositing it in a protected crevice and allowing the eggs to hatch.
How Long Does it Take Cockroach Eggs to Hatch?
Immature cockroaches, called Nymphs, emerge from the ootheca within 24 to 38 days, slowly developing into adult cockroaches within weeks.
They are grayish-brown in color and darken as they mature, slowly taking on the shape and size of full-blown cockroaches.
How Long Can Cockroach Eggs Lay Dormant?
The egg case delivered by the female roaches can’t stay active for a prolonged period.
If the eggs don’t hatch in a couple of days, the nymphs might not emerge.
Furthermore, if the female roach delivers the ootheca prematurely, it can simply dry out, and the embryos won’t have the chance to grow.
How To Identify Cockroach Eggs?
Cockroaches like to camp close to a sustained source of reliable food and fresh water.
The best sanctuaries are provided by moist, warm areas of our homes, like bathrooms and kitchens.
These places not only promise safety and complete secrecy but also act as an ideal nurseries for cockroach eggs and young cockroaches that have just hatched.
As a homeowner, you should consider covering these spots thoroughly before ruling out a roach infestation.
Some favorite hiding places include:
Drawers, cupboards, and pantries
These spots provide adequate food, access to water, and privacy, making these incredible, dark places ideal cockroach habitats.
Inside appliances
Kitchen appliances like your washer, toaster, and dryer are excellent hiding spots. They have warm slots and nooks to nest, inviting several cockroaches.
Baseboards
Baseboards of your home allow them to stay low and undetected, making them nest on and around any loose floorboards they can find.
Wet Floor and Bathtub Drain
Hydration attracts cockroaches, and leaky faucets, faulty plumbing, and drains are perfect places for them to hide.
Damp Areas
High humidity levels are essential for cockroaches, who attack quiet corners like laundry rooms or wash chambers, and silently make their colonies in the dark.
Trash Cans and Recycling Bins
Cockroaches aren’t picky eaters; even garbage will do, so trash cans and recycling bins are perfect homes.
How To Eliminate Cockroach Eggs?
So now you know what roach eggs look like.
You’ve spotted their hideout and identified their source. So what’s the next step?
Eliminate the ootheca
Once you identify a cockroach egg, remove the hardened capsule using gloves.
Next, use gentle pressure to crush every ootheca and throw the remains away in a sealed bag.
However, this exercise only works if the infestation is budding and there are minimal eggs. You would require a little more patience and some simple products for a large-scale attack.
Diatomaceous Earth
Made of marine phytoplankton, it is toxic to roaches and can dehydrate the ootheca.
Simply sprinkle diatomaceous earth powder in places where you frequently see roaches; it will take care of the rest.
Baking Soda and Sugar
In a small bottle, mix equal parts baking soda and ground sugar. Sprinkle it around the infested areas once the mixture settles into a uniform liquid.
The sweet, sticky sugar attracts the roach, while the strong baking soda takes care of the rest.
This is a great alternative, considering it takes care of the ootheca and the adult cockroaches in a single sweep.
How To Prevent Roaches From Laying Eggs?
Leaving a cockroach colony unaddressed can multiply their number overnight, causing the infestation to become severe.
However, a little maintenance, good sanitation practices, and a reduction in clutter can help to prevent cockroaches from getting comfortable in your home.
Here are some tips to reduce the chances of these pests creating havoc:
- Plug all significant and minor cracks, blocking available entries for the roaches. This way, they can no longer deposit their eggs or build their secret colonies.
- Clean and remove food crumbs and cover up leftovers. Also, remember to wipe up spilled beverages immediately.
- Dispose of soiled food plates or wrappers.
- Wash dirty utensils and all items having food particles after use.
- Clean out the garbage, including the kitchen and bathroom trash, regularly.
Final Words
Cockroaches invade our homes and make those intimate spaces their own.
As physical embodiments of filth and germs, they show that all of our fortifications against dirt and disease are ultimately futile.
However, having a scientific approach to combat your enemy is always advisable.
Maintaining hygiene and regularly checking your house for roach eggs is the number 1 solution to avoid a significant outbreak.
You can also use cockroach foggers to eliminate them permanently.
We hope you have a roach-free home!
