Life Cycle of a Cockroach
Cockroaches are said to be ancient creepers and have lived since 200 million years ago. They have excellent survival ability, and no wonder they have survived the war, nukes, and nuclear bombs.
All cockroaches go through three stages of life — egg, nymph, and adult. A cockroach’s lifespan depends on species, moisture, and temperature. Many cockroach species do not fly, but they crawl all over the floor and wall, even if they raid your food. Thus, contaminating them. As an adult, female cockroaches will start courting and attracting males to begin the reproduction process.
In this article, we will discuss the life cycle of a cockroach.
Types of Cockroach Species
Cockroaches have existed for millions of years, and thousands of species are crawling the world. Some of the most common species are -
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
German cockroaches are also known as one of the most common cockroaches found. They measure up to 13 to 16 mm long and are pale brown in color. They produce most eggs and can live up to 12 months.
American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)
American cockroaches can live up to 2 years and are reddish brown in color with light yellow bands behind their head. They are the most common species of cockroach that infest our households and infest our homes. Both males and females have wings can can fly short distances.
Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Brown banded cockroaches can grow up to 13 mm. The females have reddish brown wings, while the males have dark brown wings towards the end that lightens as it goes up. The females cannot fly. They usually jump whenever disturbed. Both males and females have two light yellow bands across their bodies and can live up to 11 months.
Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
Oriental cockroaches have dark brown glossy bodies. The males can grow up to 25 mm long, while the females can grow up to 32 mm in length. They live up to six months and feed mainly on decaying organic matter.
Cockroaches Stage of Life
Whenever you see a cockroach, the first reaction is fear which comes along with stink and disgust. Once you spot them, you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. So, to do that, you need to know their life cycle. Like every other creature, their life cycle is fascinating. Let us read below to learn more about their life cycle.
Eggs — Reproduction
A female cockroach can lay up to 55 eggs at a time, which look like grains. Most cockroaches are oviparous — the eggs develop outside the female’s body. They usually lay eggs in moist, warm, and tight spaces to safeguard their eggs from any external damage. Here’s what a cockroach egg will look like -
It usually takes 1–2 months for eggs to hatch, but it can happen faster, depending on the species. They also lay eggs multiple times a year and can have thousands of offspring.
Nymphs — Baby Cockroaches
Baby roaches are known as nymphs. While they are nymphs, their size is roughly three-eighths of an inch long. They are usually white, which is the marking on their bodies. They change color after each molting — a process where they shed their exoskeleton. Their size differs from their age to how recently they have molted. The average number of times they molt is thirteen (depending on the species). They cannot fly as they are wingless.
Cockroach — Adults
After the final molting, the nymph becomes an adult, which is around 4 cm and 7 mm long. Once it reaches adulthood, it is fully functional and sexually active. It has fully grown wings and a long pair of antennae. Also, they are usually brown.
Conclusion
The average lifespan of a cockroach is 1 to 2 years. Some species of cockroach live for as long as a decade. Some even say that some species go back even 350 million years. They reproduce quite often and are usually found in clusters in your closet, food counter, kitchen sink, etc.
