Technically, all female roaches undergo pregnancy. But, only species that are ovoviviparous, or those that carry their egg cases around with them, are considered 'pregnant'.
How Does a Cockroach Give Birth? As mentioned, most female roaches don't give birth. Instead, they lay tiny bean-shaped sacs containing their eggs called ootheca, which they lay around a week after mating.
Cockroaches don't technically get pregnant because most species (see above) don't give birth to live young. But when they do get “pregnant”, they form the egg sac that will hold their eggs until they hatch. Some species only mate once; they'll keep reproducing from that first mating for the rest of their lives.
Attracted males approach females and flap their wings to denote interest. Reproduction commences when a male cockroach backs into a female cockroach, depositing sperm.
Adults lay eggs contained within dark-colored egg cases (size and shape of a dry kidney bean). Depending on the species, an egg case contains between 16 - 50 eggs. Eggs hatch into young cockroaches called nymphs, that are more numerous than adults.
Raid Ant & Roach Killer Insecticide Spray was found to be one of the most effective at killing cockroaches. A can is helpful for the times when you spot a roach in your home and you don't want to get too close. A roach spray should kill the bug almost instantly.
The most common places for a roach nest in the house are in kitchens or bathrooms, particularly behind refrigerators, in cracks and crevices, and under furniture. Roaches prefer a warm, humid environment, so these places should be considered first, especially if they are close to a food source and water supply.
Myth #3: They can see me coming…
True: Why yes, they can. Cockroaches can see humans, and that is why they tend to run in fear when we are in their line of sight. The eye of the cockroach is like a compound lens, made of over 2,000 mini lenses that are photoreceptors and allow them to see in complete darkness.
Common female cockroaches can reproduce for years without needing a mate, producing dozens of generations of all-female descendants, a team of scientists has found. Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction, allowing young insects to spawn from unfertilised eggs.
The average cockroach lifespan is about twenty to thirty weeks given that the roach has ready access to food and water. The first stage in the life of cockroach females and males alike is the egg stage. Eggs are produced in what are called egg capsules.
Cockroach Bites
Cockroaches are omnivores that eat plants and meat. They have been recorded to eat human flesh of both the living and the dead, although they are more likely to take a bite of fingernails, eyelashes, feet and hands. The bites may cause irritation, lesions and swelling.
You can expect each female German roach to produce an egg capsule around every six weeks. These capsules typically take about 28 days to hatch. No wonder a cockroach population can develop so quickly!
Squishing a cockroach releases it's eggs: Fake
One ootheca can have anywhere from 10-50 eggs inside, depending on the species. So, if you squish a female cockroach with your shoe, most likely, she has already deposited her eggs safely somewhere else.
Is There a Queen? Is there a queen roach? Cockroaches are not truly social insects (like honey bees or termites). As such, they do not have a queen.
Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers and will consume any organic food source available to them. Although they prefer sweets, meats and starches, they are also known to consume other items such as hair, books and decaying matter.
Cockroaches reproduce very quickly when they are living in an environment where they have access to food and water. A single eggcase can drastically worsen the situation, so do your best to curb the population before it gets out of control.
Why Do Flying Cockroaches Fly Toward You? If you think flying cockroaches are flying right toward you, they actually aren't. Most cockroach species aren't good "flyers," and what you take as them flying toward you is actually just them being startled and gliding uncontrollably in a certain direction.
Cockroaches do sleep and just like other animals and insects, they also follow a specific circadian rhythm. They are nocturnal insects, which means that they rest or sleep during the day. Cockroaches are usually active for four hours after dark and then go into a period of immobility.
Cockroaches can be a menace, to say the least. However, nothing is worse than cockroaches disturbing your sleep by crawling all over you or your bed. Just the thought of these creatures scampering and crawling on your bed is enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
The refrigerator houses all of your favorite foods and drinks, but they also house one thing you never want to see in your home — cockroaches! Between the humidity near the fans and motor, and the food crumbs that drop to the floor, your refrigerator is the perfect place to house a cockroach infestation.
Daytime Dens
Because cockroaches dislike light, they disappear during the daytime to dark places, including the undersides of appliances like stoves and refrigerators, underneath sinks or other installations, near plumbing, inside light switches and behind wall paneling or doorjambs.
Roach Repellents
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
The Presence Of Food
Available food is the single most powerful reason cockroaches enter our homes. These insects aren't picky eaters—almost anything left out on your kitchen counters is fair game to them, and they'll be drawn to it.