Stages of a German Cockroach
German cockroaches begin life as eggs within an egg casing known as an ootheca. An ootheca contains approximately 35 eggs and is brown in color. An ootheca is approximately seven millimeters long and two millimeters wide. They are very resilient and can survive if detached from the female or if the female dies.
Females of this species carry the ootheca until it is ready to hatch. Oothecae are commonly seen protruding from the abdomens of German cockroach females. Nymphs emerge from the ootheca as tiny insects. They gradually darken into dark brown or black cockroaches with parallel lines visible upon the pronotum. German cockroach nymphs are wingless and incapable of reproduction. Nymphs molt six to seven times and can develop completely within 60 days under optimal conditions.
The adult stage begins with the last successful molting. At this point, German cockroaches are approximately 15 millimeters in length and are winged.
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