Cockroach Eggs: What They Look Like, How to Kill & Get Rid

Terry Stephanie

Did you know that a cockroach can lay multiple eggs simultaneously? What do cockroaches eggs look like? If you locate a cockroach in your home, it means that there are cockroach eggs somewhere probably in their nests. How can you get rid and kill the roach eggs? Find out more in this post a detailed information on what cockroach eggs look like, how to kill and get rid of them.

A cockroach, female, can lay around 30 to 50 eggs at once. This is how the population of cockroaches grows rapidly in your home. It could be somewhere on your clothes, in furniture, cracks etc.

But can you identify cockroach eggs? What do they look like? Cockroach eggs are enveloped in a capsule called ootheca that appears mostly brown or black in color. A single ootheca has up to 50 eggs.

What Do Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

So, what do cockroach eggs look like? Naturally, cockroach eggs are enclosed with a capsule called ootheca that appears mostly black or brown in color. The size of a cockroach ootheca for both American and German is around 0.3 inches. But that of oriental roaches are slightly bigger in size, 0.5 inches in inches. The length of brown branded cockroach ootheca is 0.25 inches which makes it relatively smaller.

To clearly what the cockroach eggs look like, the shape, size, color and length are what will help you recognize.

Different Types of Cockroaches and How Do Their Eggs Look Like?

To clearly understand how cockroach eggs look like, we have to narrow our research to types of the cockroaches. Remember, the types of cockroaches may vary though slightly in shape and size.

Here’s a list of types of cockroaches that we intend to discuss and how their eggs look like.

German cockroach
American cockroach
Oriental cockroach
Australian cockroach
Hissing cockroach

What Do American Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

To understand what American cockroach eggs look like, our focus will be on size, color and shape. Just like most or all the cockroaches in the world, American cockroaches lay eggs in ootheca. The casing of the ootheca is slightly hard. In terms of color, the casing is usually brown.

The female American cockroach lays about one cases in a month. This is about 16 eggs in total in each case. The size of the case is usually 0.3 inches long and about 0.19 inches high. If compared to the other types of cockroaches, American cockroaches are the largest.

What Do German Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

Commonly found in America, their eggs are usually contained within a capsule. In terms of size, they are 1/3 inches long and brown in color.

Each female German cockroach lays about 20 to 40 eggs in a single ootheca. This means their population growth is higher compared to other cockroaches.

What Do Australian Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

It is safe to say the shape of Australian cockroach eggs is similar to German cockroaches. If you look at the color of the Australian egg, you will notice that it is reddish-brown to dark brown. However, the eggs have a yellow marking on the top.

In terms of size, the eggs are somehow smaller when compared to the American cockroach eggs. A female Australian egg lays around 25 eggs per case. A female Australian cockroach will lay about 20 to 30 eggs before they die.

What Does an Oriental Cockroach Egg Look Like?

The egg of an oriental cockroach takes the shape of oval. In terms of color, it is dark and reddish-brown. A single Oriental cockroach ootheca carries around 16 eggs. In terms of size, each ootheca is about 0.3 inches.

A female Oriental cockroach lays about 18 egg cases in their lifetime. It may take about 600 days for the nymph to develop into adults.

What Do Hissing Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

The case of a hissing cockroach egg appears like a cocoon. Their capsules appear like a long worm. In terms of color, the hissing cockroach egg appear yellowish-white. The female hissing cockroach can lay 30 ootheca in their lifetime while each ootheca producing around 60 nymphs.

Hissing cockroaches tend to exist in large colonies unlike other types of cockroaches. The hissing cockroaches can live up to 18 months before they die.

Where to look for roach eggs

Where cockroach lay their ootheca tend to vary by the type of the cockroach. But it is not easy to find the eggs. Some species tend to carry their egg cases around them until they are ready to hatch. Cockroaches will lay their eggs in warm and secure places.

So, where should you look for the roach eggs? Look in the kitchens, basements, inside cabinets and any other place where there is a sign of cockroach infestation. Some species will place their egg near the source of food as in this scenario of female cockroach. Here, the nymph will be left to fend for themselves as soon as they hatch.

To get rid of the eggs, inspect the pantries, cabinets, drawers, closets, etc. You should also check around baseboard, leaky water pipes, furniture legs, picture frames, clocks and your clothes.

Check near garbage, storage areas, papers and cardboard boxes. In short, roach eggs can be place anywhere the female find it warm, enough source of food and secure environment.

How long does It take for cockroach eggs to hatch?

Cockroaches take about 45 days to hatch with each case producing about 14 young ones. However, this depends on the type of cockroach species. An immature nymph is usually reddish-brown in color and wingless. For a young nymph to mature, it takes about 215 to 400 days.

Do cockroaches lay eggs when killed?

It is NOT possible for cockroaches to release eggs when the cockroaches are killed. Killing a cockroach will not release its eggs. Remember, cockroaches use an ootheca to bundle their eggs. Ootheca is hardened substance where the eggs are contained.

Are cockroach eggs dangerous?

Cockroach eggs can be dangerous especially if one is allergic to the cockroaches. If they get exposed to the protein to the feces, saliva, shedding skins and eggs, they can develop an allergic response. Cockroach eggs can trigger sneezing, coughing, red and watery eyes, nasal congestion.

How to Kill Cockroach Eggs

There are different ways one can kill cockroach eggs. While it may sound it easy to simply crush the eggs with your feet, you can easily kill the eggs with a vacuum cleaner but care must be taken when disposing the bag.

Below, learn methods on how to kill cockroach eggs:

a) Freezing

Does freezing kill cockroach eggs? Freezing is one of the most effective method to kill both the cockroaches and their eggs. But this methods requires time and patience.

Temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult for both the cockroach and their eggs to survive. If you notice cockroach eggs in your home especially in your furniture, expose them to extreme low temperature and in a few days, they will die.

Alternatively, use Carbon dioxide gas canister to freeze and kill the roaches’ eggs.

b) Fumigation

You can kill the cockroaches through fumigation. However, this method is not considered effective in killing the cockroach eggs. If you manage to kill cockroaches using this method, you reduce the ability of the female cockroaches laying eggs.

c) Bleach

Bleach is effective in not just killing the cockroach eggs but also the adult cockroaches. Just spray bleach where you highly suspect that there are cockroach eggs.

Using undiluted bleach may destroy the surfaces, so add equal amount of water to the bleach and spray – Buy on Amazon

d) Boiling Water

Does boiling water kill cockroach eggs? Boiling is as good as any other discussed method above. It will not only kill the eggs but the cockroaches too. Heat above 130 degrees Fahrenheit will damage the cockroaches and their eggs.

e) Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is also effective in killing cockroach eggs. Although some people argue that this method can be harmful to your health especially respiratory issues if you inhale the fumes, you may still use rubbing alcohol but remember to wear personal protective equipment such as respirator, gloves etc.

How to Get Rid of Cockroach Eggs

Getting rid of the cockroach eggs alone can be difficult. Cockroach egg is a sign of cockroach infestation and to get rid of the eggs, you need to eliminate and kill the cockroaches. To get rid of the eggs, find their location and use either of the method discussed above. You can use a vacuum cleaner, bleach, boiling water, rubbing alcohol, freezing to get rid of the eggs.

As mentioned earlier in the post, the best way to get rid of the egg is to get rid of the cockroaches. You can use either baits, insecticides, liquid gels etc.