How to Identify Brown-Banded Cockroach Babies

Nymphs in the Life Cycle Process

Brown-banded cockroaches mature by a process known as incomplete metamorphosis and have three developmental stages in their life cycle:

• Egg

• Nymph

• Adult

If someone comments about seeing a “baby” roach, they actually are referring to a small version of the adult, which is an immature stage known as nymphs.

Development from Eggs

Female brown-banded cockroaches:

• Carry between 14-18 eggs in an external egg capsule called an ootheca.

• Produce about 14 egg cases during their adult life, with each egg case containing approximately 14-17 individual eggs.

• Extrude the egg capsule when ready and attach it in a protected area using a cement-like substance that “glues” the egg capsule in place.

When egg incubation is complete, on average about 12 of the female cockroach’s 14-18 eggs in the egg capsule will hatch and become nymphs.

After the egg hatches, cockroach nymphs emerge from these capsules and go through several molts within a two month period before becoming mature adults.

Nymphs are not able to reproduce and do not have wings. However, nymphs are mobile and will move around looking for sources of food and shelter. Nymphs consume the same foods and seek the same or similar protective harborage sites as adults.