Do Cockroaches Lay Eggs?
Roaches are disgusting so, understandably, people want to avoid roaches at all cost, and would prefer to not have to ask questions like “Do cockroaches lay eggs?” . But these questions are important to ask if you own property of any kind. Learning the nature of roaches and other pests teaches you the best way to save your home from them taking up residence. Roaches are a health hazard known to carry disturbing diseases such as E.coli and learning their reproductive habits is the first step in avoiding an infestation that carries a health risk.
A Cockroach’s Life
Roaches are old. So old that they have been around for many millions of years—since the age of dinosaurs. This has been proven in dug-up fossils found all over the world. Meaning roaches have seen it all by learning how to adapt to every imaginable situation and threat. Roaches are no longer being fazed by methods of extinction and will more than likely outlive us all. A popular myth has been floating around about roaches for many centuries about how they could live through a nuclear explosion. If this myth was true it would mean that roaches could indeed survive anything and everything.
Roaches have 4,600 different species which is a lot of roaches. In New Jersey, there are only 3 really common roach species with the names German, American, and Oriental, but they don’t come with an accent. To look at a roach closely, you will see they are similar and simple in their makeup. Roaches have 2 antennas, exoskeleton, and 6 little legs that allow them to run faster than your cat.
German Cockroach
German cockroaches look tan in color and absolutely hate light. If you see one at night and shine a flashlight toward it, you will see just how fast it will run away. If you see one during the day, you likely have a bigger problem. These little scavengers love plants and meat, but don’t let them fool you; they will also eat away at your soap or toothpaste if left out in the open.
American Cockroach
American cockroaches are the largest in the land of New Jersey. Reddish-brown in color, these guys are fast runners. American roaches are known to take up residence in your favorite local restaurants due to the increased humidity from cooking in the kitchen. They don’t stop there, because they also love homes and apartments and will eat anything, and I mean anything they come across. If an infestation of the American cockroach is off the charts, your nose will be the first thing to notice because these roaches secrete their own perfume. EWWW.
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches look blackish-brown and have the nickname of Waterbugs. They love darkness and water. So, typically, you will find these roaches in sewers, basements, ponds, and wood piles. Since they love sewers so much, they are considered the nastiest roach in New Jersey, carrying many illnesses like salmonella and E. Coli. If left to roam the food you eat, Oriental roaches can cause serious food poisoning. That being said, roaches are highly attracted to rotting food and dirty dishes that have been neglected all week. Roaches also love water. Humidity, leaking pipes—anything these waterlogged creatures can do to get near water, they will.
Other Fun Facts About Cockroaches
⇒ They were around to see the dinosaurs
⇒ They run a max speed of 3 miles per hour
⇒ They can go without food for 30 days and water for 7 days
⇒ They are very social, communicating with other roaches through pheromones to share intel about food or danger
But enough of all that, roach reproduction is what we need to focus on!
When Cockroaches Lay Eggs
These cringy insects go to great lengths to protect their eggs. Eggs start to form when a male roach fertilizes a female roach. The female then creates an ootheca, which is a fancy name for a hard casing that contains the eggs. Kinda like a suitcase for roach mommas. Some types of roaches will carry this case around right up until it’s time for the eggs to hatch. Others will hide it in a protected area. When momma cockroaches lay eggs—they have anywhere from 10 to 50 eggs at a time! The whole process lasts a little over a month for hatching to take place and tiny new roaches begin their rampage.
If you ever notice small brownish-black bean-like things under your sink or near trash, chances are it’s roach eggs. Guess what? They are getting ready to hatch. After they hatch, baby nymphs (what they are called in this stage) begin to take over, and quickly begin causing trouble. Nymphs are typically white and mature fast. This is the most unsafe stage because they are constantly shedding their thin outer layer before becoming adults. The beginning layers of the exoskeleton do not provide enough protection for nymphs because it is not fully hardened until the adult stage. So during this time frame, they hide and stay out of open spaces to make sure they don’t get eaten by a predator or come across other dangers. A female can reproduce many, many times, and with the amount of eggs hatching at once, your home can quickly become infested.
Cockroaches Give Us The “Icks”
Part of what makes roaches disgusting is that they are known to carry diseases while they scurry the depths of decay. As things decompose, roaches take it upon themselves to break it down and do some good by returning nutrients to the soil. This carries an important part of our ecosystem. Other than that, roaches pretty much cause a lot of problems. As roaches enjoy munching on decomposing food they pick up diseases and transfer nasty viruses to whatever they come into contact with. If they come into contact with your food and you eat it, there is a good chance you will get sick.
People who suffer from allergies are also put at a higher risk when it comes to roaches because of the feces they leave or by shedding their exoskeleton. Some ways you can stay alert: Keep It Clean: Roaches are always looking for food and water. Keeping areas dry and making sure and trash is taken out daily can will send roaches searching for food elsewhere. Roaches are stealthy, resilient creatures and just because you don’t see a food source, doesn’t mean they can’t find the crumbs hiding in cracks and crevices.
Tips On Keeping Roaches OUT
Cracks and Nooks: Make sure any cracks are sealed tight, and always check behind appliances and cabinets for openings that roaches may be able to enter. Some places to look carefully would be behind your refrigerator, bookshelves, or under sinks where cockroaches lay eggs.
Storing Food: It is important that you always store any food carefully, and that it’s in a sealed container. This will be your best bet to keep roaches away. Sealed food prevents roaches from being able to detect it, along with being able to access any leftovers.
Inspection and Pest Control: Having a pest control company in your back pocket will always be a smart decision. Kapture Pest Control is just a phone call away with expert technicians. They always do a thorough job inspecting homes for roach hot spots and will take charge of the situation. Kapture has all the knowledge and techniques required to rid your home of both roaches and their eggs.
Word to the wise, dealing with roaches can literally be a nightmare. Roaches roam your house at night doing their worst and knowing they are crawling around can give your dreams a scary spin. Pest management teams know the sneakiness of roaches and what it takes to kill them and prevent them. So do cockroaches lay eggs? Yes—a lot of them. It’s one reason they survive and multiply from generation to generation. Learning the way roaches operate will give you the power and knowledge to keep them away from your private sanctuary for good. If you are ready to tackle your roach problem reach out to our Kapture Pest Control team today. Kapture is eager to answer all your questions about roaches and work with on a plan to eliminate them.
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