Baby Cockroaches

In this article, we will shed some light on baby cockroaches and everything you need to know about these pesky little creatures.

What are baby cockroaches?

A majority of animals have babies that are not only cute but adorable as well. If we talk about the baby of a cockroach, it seems so clear why they are deemed to be ugly and creepy. Be it an adult or a baby; you are bound to have a hard time when it comes to dealing with them. These uninvited creatures can be found wandering in and around your kitchen and other areas where you usually keep food items.

The word ‘baby’ evokes a feeling of being warm and positive. But does this word conjure up the same feeling when you talk of ‘baby cockroaches?’ Certainly not! If you have discovered these pesky little creatures in your home lately, you never know when you might be facing be a pest infestation problem in your home.

You cannot afford to act casually when it comes to dealing with this problem as it can take an ugly turn causing harm to your home sooner or later. If you spot a baby roach somewhere in your home or run into these unwelcome creatures one fine day, chances are there is a breeding colony somewhere in your home. Keeping this in mind, getting rid of them will be the smartest move you will make.

You cannot even think of not paying heed to such an unwanted problem as it will make things difficult for you to handle. Their population can grow to a greater extent before you even know it. Well, you may live with an assumption that these critters don’t cause any harm being smaller in size. However, they can begin to freak you out at any given time if they gain a bigger size.

Baby roaches can affect the overall sanitation of your family. When they invade your home, they bring along a plethora of germs in your kitchen that are noxious.

What do baby cockroaches look like?

Other than having a small size compared to their adult counterparts, baby cockroaches usually appear to be white in color. These creatures are considered to be the smaller version of adult cockroaches. The major difference between the two (baby cockroach and adult cockroach) is that the former does not have the wings like the adult cockroaches.

Furthermore, baby roaches may have a light color when compared to their adult counterparts. It is important for you to know that the baby German cockroach seems darker in color than adult ones. Also known as ‘nymphs,’ baby roaches are usually gray or white in color, but of course it depends on their species.

Adult cockroaches have yellow lines as markings on the body. Baby cockroaches, on the other hand, don’t have these lines. What they have is a smooth body other than being 3 mm in length.

When you get up close and personal with these unwished-for bugs crawling in and around your kitchen, bathroom or anywhere else in your house, avoid living with an assumption that they seem something different like a type of beetle that you may have never laid your eyes on. Truth be told, these critters could make way for the possible infestation in your home.

If there are adult cockroaches in your home, you will never find a population of baby roaches in such places. Being so young and immature, these bugs will remain hidden close to where they’re born till the time they don’t reach that stage to forge out by themselves.

What are the most common species you may have a close encounter in your home?

• American Cockroaches
• German Cockroaches

Being remarkably smaller in size, you may find it hard to realize that they’re cockroaches. They prefer to stay near the area where they can easily hatch. These areas include corners of your kitchen or laundry where it is easy for them to find food and shelter.

Different Types

Well, the three species that are commonly found include:

• German Cockroach
• Brown-Banded Cockroach
• American Cockroach

Let’s discuss these types in detail.

German Cockroach

Being the smallest cockroach species, the small size of the German cockroach may fool you but don’t let it happen to you. This species is one of the most prevailing of this creepy bug. Although the wings of these pests are fully developed, they hardly fly. Not only do these immature cockroaches seem much smaller when compared to the adults, but they also have a dark color. Furthermore, they do not have wings.

These pests don’t lay their eggs on the surface. But they carry the egg capsules on the abdomen till the time eggs are not ready to conceive. You can find this species of baby cockroaches crawling on every type of building such as homes, condominiums, apartments and so on.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

Brown-Banded Cockroach is the one that is very tiny in size as the German cockroach. These creepy bugs can be found in colors like light gold and shiny dark brown. They can fly actively when compared to German cockroach species. The male species can fly quickly when something/someone causes disturbance to them. These cockroaches can be found in homes, hotels, apartments, nursing homes and hospitals. They tend to remain hidden in places which are not only dark but small in size. They feed on starchy food items and don’t require much water compared to other species.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach is the one that seems much larger than the two species mentioned above. Being reddish-brown in color, not even the male but female cockroaches also have wings that are fully developed, but they hardly consider flying.

It may sound surprising to you that this species can be found on residential as well as commercial buildings because these buildings provide them the shelter these roaches need.

Reproduction: How fast baby cockroaches multiply?

No homeowner would ever want to get up close and personal with cockroaches seeing them crawl in the kitchen or other areas. If you think that there is only one pest, you’re mistaken. There are many more to be found which is one of the most annoying sights for homeowners. You never know when a full infestation might have already taken place in your home. In fact, you don’t know that these small creatures are born before you even know it.

Ever ran into a long cockroach? If so, then you surely must have had a close encounter with a female cockroach with an egg case on her abdomen. The egg case called an ‘ootheca,’ of German cockroach usually carries around 30 to 40 eggs. This egg case is carried up to the time when the eggs are completely ready to hatch. Once these small pests hatch, they look bright in the initial stage.

It takes 3 to 4 months for baby cockroaches to develop into fully grown adults. And the lifespan of these roaches is one year. A female cockroach in her entire lifetime can easily produce between 200 to 300 babies equivalent to 6 generations a year. A single cockroach can produce a number of eggs which usually differ from species to species.

Note – One female German cockroach and her progeny could easily produce 300,000 roaches in one year. So if you don’t take the necessary preventative measures, a small roach infestation can make things worse for you that must handle before it’s too late.

Health risks they possess

It is important for you to keep in mind that these annoying pests (both babies and adults) are a carrier of viruses and bacteria. As a result, they could spread diseases including diarrhea and dysentery.

Moreover, these critters can harm those individuals that have asthma. If you don’t take the required action immediately, these diseases can spread like wildfire in your home.

Having baby roaches in your home is never a good idea because your eyes may become watery as well as itchy. In fact, you will find yourself sneezing and coughing a lot more than you usually do. Baby cockroaches leave molted shells lying around your home in a large number. The most feasible solution is to eliminate these pests completely.

How to identify cockroach eggs in your house?

Came across small roaches in and around your home? Odds are there is a nest in the walls. Considering this, it’s important for you to know what eggs look like and you will be able to identify a nest.

American Cockroach Eggs

Female American cockroaches leave egg case (oothecae) which are dark brown in color and 8mm long. Know that a single female can easily make between 6 and 90 of egg cases in her entire lifespan. Each egg case will consist of around 15 embryos, and the little ones (babies) will emerge from the case in five weeks.

Brown-Banded Cockroach Eggs

About 5 mm in length, the brown-banded roach species creates a light reddish-brown ootheca. A female roach can make up to 20 egg case in her entire lifetime. Each of these cases includes between 8 and 10 embryos.

German Cockroach Eggs

An egg case, which is between 6 and 9 mm long, is produced by a female German roach. Each egg case can comprise up to 50 eggs. And it takes around 103 days for this roach species to step into adulthood. Know that the population of this species can grow immensely in no time.

Tips to get rid of baby cockroaches from your house

There is no denying the fact that the invasion of baby cockroaches in your kitchen and other areas of your home brings along many health risks. And this fact should be able to convince you that you need to take the right defensive measures to prevent the infestation of these annoying, creepy bugs in your home.

You should leave no stone unturned when it comes to putting a stop to baby roaches making their way back to your home even after they have been eliminated. If you, by any chance, bring an egg sac along, even the most hygienic home can be vulnerable to an infestation.

These bugs are known to lay their eggs in the suitcase, cardboard boxes and other things as well. It comes as no surprise that 16 baby cockroaches can develop into mature adults before you even know it. Other than laying a number of eggs, they can lead to a pest problem that you may find it hard to control if you don’t take the right action at the right time. Make sure you should check these roaches for egg sacs before emptying boxes, suitcases, groceries, etc.

When you come across a single baby roach, it may seem to be a big problem initially. Spray on it to eliminate it. As simple as that! Unluckily, it can create a big problem for you. Thus, you need to take the right preventative measures to take care of the infestation in the right way.

The first step to consider is to clean your home thoroughly. Make sure your kitchen and bathroom are cleaned properly. If the food is lying open, it can entice baby roaches. Even water can attract their attention. Do you keep some of your food items on the counter? It’s good to seal them in airtight containers. Don’t forget to clean pet food and water bowls.

Here are some useful tips you must take into consideration when it comes to getting rid of these unwelcome bugs in your home:

• Avoid leaving water standing around
• Keep your home spotless
• Consider sealing up any holes and cracks

Other useful pointers that may help you in eliminating these creatures from your living space include:

• Do Use Roach Traps
• Getting Some Borax is a Good Idea
• Grab Boric Acid
• Use Professional Pest Control Services

You don’t need to feel anxious at all if you are battling against these creepy little critters. This is because these methods mentioned above are not only tried but tested as well. So, eradicate baby roaches and make the most of your home free from pests.

Interesting Facts

Here is a list of some of the most fascinating facts about cockroaches:

• Cockroaches can run about 3 miles in an hour
• Cockroaches are not able to survive a nuclear explosion
• Cockroaches are believed to have originated more than 280 million years ago
• Cockroaches can easily live without food for thirty days. However, they will not be able to survive for more than a week without water
• Cockroaches can easily make it through a week without a head
• Cockroaches can’t fly
• Cockroaches can easily hold their breath for about forty minutes
• Cockroaches can easily survive underwater for thirty minutes.