Cockroach Eggs - How to Identify & Get Rid of Them
Seeing a cockroach at home is never a pleasant experience. Usually, when you spot a roach, it means that there may be a few more around. However, finding an egg is a sign that you have an infestation. The sooner you find and take care of the eggs, the safer you will be from these nasty bugs.
What Do Cockroach Eggs Look Like
In the cockroach kingdom, the females produce egg cases, called ootheca. Depending on the cockroach species, the ootheca has a different size and colour. Most often, the egg cases are reddish-brown to dark-brown and range from 5 to 13 mm, depending on the type of cockroach. The ootheca can be easily seen by the naked eye. However, it won’t be easy for you to find as cockroaches usually hide them well when it’s time to lay them. If you’re trying to determine what type of roach species has infested your home, the appearance of the egg cases can help you identify them.
This type of cockroach mates extremely fast. It’s the most commonly seen species. The ootheca is light brown or yellow and about 7-9mm in length. It can have between 20 and 40 eggs inside. A female adult can produce up to 30000 eggs in a single year. The female carries the eggs inside of her until it’s time for them to hatch.
With this species, each egg case can contain between 16 and 24 nymphs. The ootheca is dark brown in colour and can be up to 11mm long. The Australian cockroach drops the ootheca in sheltered areas of your home, close to food sources. The female hides the egg casings in holes and tight crevices. This makes them hard to find and treat.
The egg sack of the American roach is reddish or brown. The size of the ootheca usually ranges from 8 to 10mm in length. The females carry the eggs for a few days before dropping them in a safe place. It will take another 2 months for the babies to hatch after being dropped.
The ootheca of the brown-banded cockroach is light reddish-brown and about 5mm in length. A female can produce up to 20 cases during her lifetime. One case contains from 10 to 18 embryos. They are easily identifiable due to the two yellow bands that go on top of their abdomen.
The ootheca of the oriental cockroach is dark reddish-brown in colour. It’s 8-10mm long. This roach’s case looks a bit inflated and has approximately 16 nymphs inside. These species can only live in a warmer environment and their development depends vastly on that.
Most cockroaches drop their eggs in protected places close to a food source, as the babies will usually be left to take care of themselves after they hatch. They prefer a moist, warm environment near water such as the kitchen, bathrooms or laundry areas. Be sure to check under the sinks and countertops, behind appliances, baseboards, plumbing cabinets, water heater closets, and rubbish bins. If you spot a small roach or an egg sack, an infestation may be taking place.
How to Kill Cockroach Eggs
These insects are extremely annoying and nasty little buggers. Once your home has been infested, it may be very hard to get rid of the cockroaches. Something that may kill the adult roach won’t necessarily kill the eggs, too. So, how can you get rid of those eggs? Well, it’s a tricky process. To eliminate a cockroach infestation completely, you will need to target both the adult roaches and their eggs.
First, you have to find their hiding spots. Since you already know the most common places where they hide, this may be a very easy task for you. Once you spot a cockroach egg, pick it up using gloves or a paper towel (you can also use a vacuum cleaner). Then, crush the ootheca and throw it away in a plastic bag. Don’t throw away the plastic bag in your local bin. Dispose of it as far from your home as possible.
There are many home remedies on the internet, claiming that they kill cockroaches. Unfortunately, not all of them work. We have made a list with a couple of useful solutions that can help you fight the pesky insect.
Baking Soda and Sugar
In a small container (or a bottle), make a mixture of equal parts baking soda and sugar. Sprinkle it at places where you’ve seen cockroaches. This is one of the most effective and easiest to make roach killers. The sugar attracts the roach, while the baking soda takes care of the rest.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is another great choice when it comes to killing cockroaches. It’s made of marine phytoplankton, which is toxic to roaches. Make sure to buy the food-grade version. Sprinkle the powder in places where you frequently see roaches.
What to Do If You Find Cockroach Eggs
As we previously mentioned, finding cockroach eggs in your home means that it’s infested. You will have to get rid of the adult roaches in order to stop them from mating and reproducing. Getting rid of these pesky insects can be very hard. If you’ve already tried battling them but it’s been unsuccessful, we recommend that you turn to a professional pest control expert.
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