The German Cockroach Life Cycle

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) have a reputation for being amazingly crafty survivors, especially in warm, humid areas like Southeast Texas. German roaches are easily the cockroach species that homeowners deal with most frequently, including in Kingwood, Texas. They are also unwelcome invaders in apartments, businesses, restaurants, and in countless other food processing facilities. If you understand the German cockroach life cycle better, it can help you better manage roach infestations even before they occur.

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What Is the Lifecycle of German Cockroaches?

German cockroaches have three stages of their life cycle, along with other “incomplete metamorphosis” insect species. German cockroaches go through an egg stage, a nymph stage, and finally an adult stage (skipping a typical “pupal” stage). Their life cycle runs for a little over three months (from egg to adult death) under ideal conditions, which include adequate warmth, humidity, and food availability.

German roaches are breeding all the time. If you have any doubt about how fast they breed, a single female German roach, along with her subsequent offspring, can produce up to hundreds of thousands of new German roaches over the course of only a year!

If you see one single roach, you may not have an infestation. If you see two or three roaches, especially if it’s during the daytime, you should start planning on addressing a nearby infestation, possibly in a wall void, attic, basement, or other hidden area.

Roaches aren’t particularly dangerous, but they are a health hazard. They spread all kinds of bacteria and pathogens with them wherever they go, and they can even cause asthma, and make existing cases of asthma worse.

How Did I Get Roaches in My Clean House?

German cockroaches (and all roaches) are always in search of three things: Food, water, and shelter. Keeping things clean is your first strategy to reducing conditions that attract roaches and other pests. But even in the cleanest of homes, roaches can still find a way to survive. Roaches will eat just about anything, including pet food, crumbs, grease stains, cardboard, food and drink spills, dead roaches and other dead insects, and even their own feces. Check out our services Pest Control Kingwood TX, Pest Control Conroe TX and Pest Control Humble TX

How Do I Prevent German Cockroaches?

Again, remember, that cleanliness and lack of clutter are the best way to curb population growth for roaches and other pests.

Keep your countertops clean (clean up crumbs and spills immediately!). Do NOT a sink full of dirty dishes overnight. Sweep, mop, and vacuum your floors regularly.
Repair indoor and outdoor plumbing leaks so roaches don’t have access to a ready supply of water. If needed, dehumidify your basement and crawlspaces.
Keep your trash covered tightly and remove every day if needed. Keep your outdoor trash as far away from your doors as possible.
Seal up cracks, gaps, holes, and crevices around your home. Cover pipe/utility entry points and other vents with screens. Stuff gaps with copper wool.
Move mulch and firewood at least 20 feet away from the side of your house.

There’s a lot you can do (starting with keeping your house clean and organized) to help keep German cockroaches away. But if you are seeing German roach activity and have a growing infestation on your hands, it might be time to call in a professional. Save yourself tons of time, money, and stress by calling our Kingwood, TX pest control experts today! We’ll get rid of the roaches for you, and show you more about how to keep them from coming back!