german cockroach life cycle
German cockroach life cycle. At any time there could be numerous adults nymphs and egg cases present in a home. The world s heaviest cockroach is the australian giant burrowing cockroach macropanesthia rhinoceros which can reach 9 centimetres 3 1 2 in in length and weigh more than 30 grams 1 oz.
The nymphs emerge from the egg case after about six to eight weeks and mature in about six to twelve months.
German cockroach life cycle. A german cockroach s life cycle only lasts about 100 days from egg to adulthood. German cockroach ootheca eggs photo of a german cockroach and egg case. The life cycle from egg to adult averages about 600 days and the adult life span may be another 400 days. Read more about the life cycle of the german cockroach.
Life cycle of a german cockroach. The german cockroach goes through the typical three stages of metamorphosis. The egg nymph and adult. However factors such as temperature nutritional status and strain differences may influence the time required to complete a life cycle.
These roaches don t breed in cycles like some other species. Comparable in size is the central american giant cockroach blaberus giganteus. The oothecae of cockroach species contain a range of nymph numbers which is dependent on species. From these harborages adults emerge at night to search for food and water.
Eggs produced by female cockroaches are enclosed in resilient egg cases known as oothecae. Asian cockroaches a pest of the southeastern united states are often mistaken for the german. Egg nymph and adult. These details distinguish them from smoother darker oriental and american cockroach egg capsules.
Life cycle back to top the american cockroach has three life stages. Most cockroach species are nocturnal they hide during the day and come out at night to look for food. Instead they breed continuously causing populations to increase extremely quickly. The german cockroach has three life stages typical of insects with incomplete metamorphosis.
The egg a variable number of nymphal instars and the adult. Pictures of a german cockroach female laying an egg case. The females can produce more than 400 eggs during their lifetime with their average lifespan only being three to six months. The entire life cycle is completed in about 100 days.
The most troublesome aspect of the german cockroach is their reproductive cycle. As adults german cockroaches can survive anywhere from 100 to 200 days. German cockroach egg cases are less than one quarter inch long and pale yellow or brown with a ridged surface. For example the german cockroach spends about 75 percent of its life in narrow cracks and crevices from 1 32 to 3 16 inch wide.
The american cockroach species periplaneta americana a native of africa and the middle east is 30 to 50 mm up to about 2 inches long is reddish brown and lives outdoors or in dark heated indoor areas e g basements and furnace rooms during adult life a period of about 1 5 years the female deposits 50 or more oothecae each containing about 16 eggs that hatch after 45 days.