What Do Cockroach Eggs Look Like? | Identification Guide and Pictures

Locating a cockroach in your house means that there are probably cockroach eggs somewhere as well. Some people think that cockroaches lay one egg at a time, which is not true. In fact, roaches can lay multiple eggs simultaneously.

A female cockroach can generate around 30 to 50 eggs at one time. Just imagine 30 to 50 cockroaches roaming around your place, damaging your things, and affecting your health. So, how to identify their eggs?

What do cockroach eggs look like? Cockroach eggs are contained within a capsule called an ootheca, which is mostly brown or black in color. Each capsule contains up to 50 eggs. The size of American and German cockroach ootheca is around 0.3 inches. However, the oothecae from oriental cockroaches are a bit larger in size (0.5 inches in length), while the length of the Brown-banded cockroach ootheca is 0.25 inches, which is relatively smaller.

The shape, size, color, and length will help you recognize whether it is a cockroach egg (ootheca) or something else. Each type of capsule may have a slightly different appearance. Due to its small size, it might become problematic for some people to recognize the ootheca.

There are different approaches how to eliminate cockroaches and their eggs. In the following section, we will give you an in-depth guide on how these eggs look and methods for getting rid of them. Let’s begin!

Different Types of Cockroaches and How Do They Look Like?

There are different kinds of cockroaches present all over the world. All types may vary slightly in shape and size. The following list contains some of the most popular types of cockroaches:

• American cockroach
• German cockroach
• Australian cockroach
• Hissing cockroach
• Oriental cockroach

Related: Different Types of Cockroaches: Identification Chart

What Do American Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

The American cockroaches lay eggs in an ootheca. Their casing is slightly hardened and dark brown in color. Each month an American female cockroach can lay on average around one egg case. A single case contains about 16 eggs.

This egg case is usually 0.3 inches long and 0.19 inches high. As compared to other types of cockroaches, American cockroaches are the largest. The length of an adult American cockroach is around 1.5 inches.

Related: How to Get Rid of American Cockroaches?

What Do German Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

The German cockroach is commonly found in America. Their eggs are also contained within capsules, which are usually around 1/3 inch in size. They are brown in color.

Each ootheca of a German cockroach contains about 20 to 40 eggs. The female cockroach takes care of the eggs until they are ready to hatch. As they produce more eggs, their population growth is higher in comparison to other cockroaches.

What Do Australian Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

The shape of Australian cockroach eggs is similar to German cockroach eggs. In terms of color, it is reddish-brown to dark brown. These Australian cockroach eggs also have yellow markings on the top.

Further, these eggs are smaller in size when compared to American cockroaches’ eggs. Female Australian cockroaches produce around 25 eggs per egg case. On average, their female roaches create 20 to 30 egg cases in their whole life span.

What Do Hissing Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

The hissing cockroach egg case looks like a cocoon. These capsules are like long worms with a yellowish-white color. The hissing cockroach can lay 30 oothecae in its lifetime, and each ootheca can produce around 60 nymphs.

Unlike the other types of cockroaches, hissing cockroaches exist in large colonies. The life span of these cockroaches is up to 18 months.

What Does an Oriental Cockroach Egg Look Like?

The oriental cockroach egg has an oval shape. It has a dark reddish-brown color. Each Oriental cockroach ootheca carries around 16 eggs. Each ootheca is about 0.3 inches in size.

In a lifetime, these roaches produce up to 18 egg cases. It takes approximately 600 days for oriental nymphs to become adults. However, their development also relies on environmental conditions.

How to Kill Cockroach Eggs?

There are different methods that you can use to kill cockroach eggs. The traditional way is to simply stomp/crush the cockroach eggs with your boots or with another object. You can also use a vacuum cleaner but only if you are going to later properly dispose of the bag.

Methods like freezing, boiling water, and bleach are also useful for killing their eggs. In the following sections, you will learn more about these methods.

Do Bug Bombs Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Bug bombs are not effective against cockroach eggs. Cockroaches usually lay their eggs in hard-to-reach areas, so you might struggle to apply this type of pesticide in such places.

In short, bug bombs can be used if you want to kill cockroaches but are less effective against their eggs.

Does Freezing Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Freezing can kill both the cockroaches and their eggs. But in order for freezing to work on cockroach eggs, you will have to invest a lot of your time. Like other living things, cockroaches and their eggs have a temperature limit that determines their survival.

Temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit make their survival difficult.  If you notice cockroach eggs in your furniture, you can keep them at a low temperature for a few days and they will simply die.

You can also use a CO₂ gas canister to freeze and kill cockroach eggs. Therefore, in case you want to kill cockroach eggs by freezing them, make sure to be patient as it is a time-consuming process.

Does Fumigation Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Though fumigation is one of the best methods used for killing cockroaches, it is not effective against their eggs.

Cockroaches usually hide their eggs to protect them from different environmental conditions. Therefore, you can use fumigation to eradicate cockroaches, but it is not a good idea to use this method against their eggs.

Does Bleach Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Bleach can be used to kill both cockroaches and their eggs. A few sprays of bleach will destroy the cockroach eggs.

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You can also use a solution of water and bleach for this process. Directly using bleach may damage your surfaces and the nearby area where you are applying it. Therefore, it is recommended to dilute the bleach before using it on the cockroach eggs.

Does Boiling Water Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Boiling water not only kills cockroaches but their eggs as well. Temperature over 130 degrees Fahrenheit makes survival difficult for cockroaches. Therefore, you can use boiling water to remove them from your house but try to be careful as this method is extremely dangerous.

Does Raid Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Though Raid can kill cockroaches, it is not as effective against their eggs. This has nothing to do with Raid because most of the classic insecticides are ineffective against cockroach eggs.

However, Raid and other insecticides will be able to kill nymphs once they hatch. Most effective are gel baits that will eliminate the baby’s cockroaches once they get out of the ootheca.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Cockroach Eggs?

Yes, rubbing alcohol can kill cockroach eggs. Most people suggest avoiding this technique as rubbing alcohol is also harmful to human health. Various respiratory problems may occur if you inhale its fumes.

How to Get Rid of Cockroach Eggs? | Step by Step Instructions

Once the cockroaches have laid their eggs, it becomes difficult to get rid of them. The best way to get rid of cockroach eggs is to find them and use sources like a vacuum cleaner, bleach, freezing, and boiling water to destroy them.

If you are struggling to eliminate these cockroach eggs, do not worry because we will guide you through your problem. The following is our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of cockroach eggs. Let’s begin!

Step 1: Eliminate Hiding Places, Food and Water

Cockroaches usually lay eggs in places that are hard to reach by humans. They also produce eggs near food and water sources. Therefore, if you do not want cockroaches to lay eggs, you should eliminate the sources that attract them.

Seal off all the hiding places and do not let water stay in places like the kitchen, bathroom, etc. Keep the food sources away from their reach in order not to attract them. Sanitize your bathroom and kitchen for a cockroach-free home.

Step 2: Find Cockroach Eggs

Finding cockroach eggs is usually tricky. If you notice multiple cockroaches at your home, chances are there might be their eggs as well. Search dark places near food and water sources as cockroaches lay their eggs near these sources.

Step 3: Using Different Techniques to Kill Cockroach Eggs

As previously mentioned, many methods are available that one can use to kill cockroach eggs. You can kill both the cockroaches and their eggs by freezing them or applying boiling water or bleach on them. These techniques are very effective in terms of killing cockroaches.

Our suggestion is to simply vacuum their egg casings and later properly dispose of the vacuum bag. For example, you can use multiple bags to completely seal their eggs. They will later die due to insufficient food or water sources.

If you also want to eliminate cockroaches, we have separate articles on every cockroach type, but in general, your best bet is to use cockroach bait.

Step 4: Establish a Cleaning Routine

Establish a cleaning routine once you have eliminated roaches and their eggs from your house. Cockroaches love food waste and garbage, so do not keep any type of waste in your home overnight.

Take the trash out regularly and keep your home clean. By doing so, you can minimize the chance of cockroaches coming back into our house.

List of Sources

Brown W., Merchant M., Siders K., Cockroach Biology and Management, Texas A&M University

F.B. Peairs, Types of Cockroaches, Colorado State University

Hahn J., Cockroaches Quick Facts, University of Minnesota

Potter M., Cockroach Elimination, College of Agriculture Food and Environment