German Cockroach

Identification

German cockroaches are small cockroaches, ranging from 1/2 inch to 5/8 of an inch long. They are tan to brown in color, with two dark stripes just behind the head. They have two wings, but they are incapable of flying. They have six legs, two antennae, compound eyes, and mandibles. Their antennae are used to sense their surroundings in the dark and to communicate with other cockroaches and their compound eyes give them almost 360 degrees of vision.

Reproduction

German cockroaches are social insects that live in colonies with mostly males. Their colonies can range from a few dozen to thousands of individuals. They prefer a moist and warm environment, such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. They are mostly active at night, hiding in cracks and crevices during the day.

German cockroaches reproduce by producing egg capsules that contain 30 to 48 eggs each. The female carries the egg capsule until it is ready to hatch, which can take up to 28 days. The young cockroaches are called nymphs, and they look like miniature adults. They go through several molts before reaching adulthood, which can take 9 to 13 weeks. The entire life cycle of a German cockroach can be completed in about 100 days.

German cockroaches breed continuously throughout the year, with many overlapping generations present at one time. A single female can produce up to 300 offspring in her lifetime. In one year, over 10,000 descendants can be produced from one pair of cockroaches. German cockroaches reproduce faster than any other residential cockroach.

Prevention

The best way to prevent German cockroach infestations is to eliminate the conditions that attract them. Keep your home clean and sanitary by wiping up spills and crumbs promptly, storing food in sealed containers, disposing of trash regularly, and using tight-fitting lids on garbage cans.

Reduce moisture by fixing leaks, improving ventilation, and using dehumidifiers.
Seal cracks and gaps around the base of the structure, windows, doors, pipes, and electrical outlets to prevent entry points.
Inspect items that you bring into your home for signs of cockroaches or their eggs, such as appliances, furniture, clothing, paper bags, cardboard boxes, and suitcases.
Use traps or baits to monitor or reduce the population of cockroaches. Place them in areas where you have seen or suspect cockroach activity.
Contact a professional pest control expert like Kwik Kill Pest Control if you have a severe or persistent infestation. A professional can identify the species of cockroach, locate their nests, and apply the appropriate treatment methods.

Fun Facts

They find each other by scent, which comes from their feces that they deposit in set areas.
They can live for a week without their head. They die because they cannot drink water without their mouth.
They can hold their breath for 40 minutes. They can even survive being submerged under water for 30 minutes. They do this to regulate their water loss.
They can run up to three miles per hour. A one-day old nymph can run almost as fast as its parents.
They are believed to have originated more than 280 million years ago.
They are cold-blooded insects that can live without food for one month but only survive for one week without water.

Kwik Kill Services to control German Cockroaches:

Cockroach Elimination
Please call our Office for a German Cockroach Inspection to determine your custom treatment plan needed to gain control.
Residential Cockroach Prep Sheet
Cockroaches in Commercial Kitchens Info Sheet

Additional Information:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/roaches/german.htm
https://extension.psu.edu/german-cockroaches