Baby roaches are more technically known as nymph cockroaches. If you see one of these newborn pests in your house, there’s most likely a nest nearby, which means you’re either in the middle of a roach infestation or one is about to begin.
This guide shows you how to identify different kinds of baby cockroaches, determine the kind of threat they pose to your home, figure out where they’re most likely nesting, and choose a plan to eradicate them.
WHAT DOES A BABY COCKROACH LOOK LIKE?
The quickest way to differentiate between baby cockroaches and adult versions is to check for wings. On a baby cockroach, the wings won’t have developed yet, so you’ll see only a hard exterior shell where the wings would be.
The most common species of cockroach in the United States is the German cockroach. Other cockroach species you might come across in a U.S. home include the American cockroach, the Oriental cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, and the smoky brown cockroach. There are a number of minor visual differences between them; knowing what they are can help you determine the most effective plan of attack for handling an infestation.
HOW BIG IS A BABY COCKROACH?
Baby cockroaches are quite tiny, averaging about 1/8 – 1/2 inches in length, or about half the diameter of a quarter.
Of course, baby cockroaches eventually grow significantly past their nymph-stage size. An adult American cockroach can grow to over 3 inches in length, although most are closer to 2 inches. Oriental and smoky brown adult cockroaches usually grow to between 1 inch and an inch and a half. The German and brown-banded adult versions are the smallest, maxing out at just over half an inch in length.
WHAT DOES A BABY AMERICAN COCKROACH LOOK LIKE?
In addition to being larger than other cockroach species, the American cockroach can be identified by its unique coloration. All cockroaches are white when they first hatch, but American cockroaches develop a reddish-brown tint fairly early in their molting cycles. There’s also a light yellow marking near the front of their shells, just behind the head.
Both American and German cockroaches have a banded look on their main bodies, which can help differentiate them from Oriental and smoky brown examples of the species. Those cockroaches have solid-colored shells of black and brown, respectively.
WHAT DOES A BABY GERMAN COCKROACH LOOK LIKE?
Immediately after hatching, a German cockroach is white and extremely small — almost too small to be seen with the naked eye. Baby German cockroaches share the banded look of American cockroaches, but are more clearly brown, lacking the reddish tint of the American version. Most baby German cockroaches also have a light-colored marking that runs up the rear half of their shells.
CAN A BABY COCKROACH FLY?
Cockroaches can’t fly until their wings are developed, which usually happens within six months to a year of hatching. If you’re dealing with a flying cockroach, then you know it’s already gone through most or all of the molting stages and is considered an adult.
Note that American cockroaches are better at flying than most other species of the pest. Some don’t use their wings at all, while others tend to use their wings primarily to glide.
HOW MANY BABIES CAN A COCKROACH HAVE?
The adult females of both species lay cases of eggs:
- German cockroaches lay between 30 and 40 eggs in a case
- American cockroaches lay about 15 eggs per case
An adult female German cockroach can hatch up to 300 babies over in its lifespan, while an adult female American cockroach hatches approximately half that number.
Part of the reason why the German cockroach is the most common is that the females of the species carry their eggs with them right up until they hatch, making it much more likely their babies will survive to torment you.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FIND BABY ROACHES?
Start by finding the nest
- Look in dark, enclosed areas like plumbing pipes and cabinets
- Check behind and under large appliances (refrigerators, ovens, even dishwashers)
Remove food and water sources
- Seal or remove open trash and lightly packaged food
- Eliminate puddles or standing water, especially in humid areas where Oriental cockroaches thrive
Destroy the nest if found
- Physically remove or destroy it
- Use baits and traps to reduce the remaining population
Let Clegg’s help
- Established infestations may require expert treatment
- Cockroaches can carry harmful diseases like salmonella and typhoid
- Over 50 years of pest control experience in North Carolina
- Friendly, professional service with proven eradication tactics
