DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES OF A COCKROACH

As we go through our daily routine in life, we cross paths with several different insects along the way. Of all of these insects, the cockroach is the most consistently spotted one. The life cycle of a cockroach is made up of three stages. It undergoes various changes in each of these stages to finally resemble the cockroach that every homeowner fears the most. They have also been gifted the ability to survive in any adverse condition, making it a formidable enemy.  If you have a roach-infested home, understanding the life cycle of a cockroach can help you figure out the best practices to uproot them completely.

THE INTRICACIES INVOLVED IN THE LIFE-CYCLE OF A COCKROACH

There are three distinctive stages in the life cycle of a cockroach which interestingly enough are similar to the life cycle of a grasshopper:

SLUMBERING COCKROACH EGGS AKA OOTHECA

This is the first stage in the cockroach lifespan as it prepares to start its measly life. Cockroach egg casings are brown or black in color and oval shaped. These egg casings called ootheca consist of anywhere between 16 to 40 eggs depending on the species. These oothecae are responsible for ensuring that the eggs do not dry out.   The female cockroaches lay these eggs in deep dark corners of your home where they lie dormant till it is time for the eggs to hatch which takes anywhere between 6 to 7 weeks.

NYMPHS – THE MINIATURE COCKROACHES

The name of this stage might evoke a pleasant image in your mind; the cockroach nymph, unfortunately, it is just a smaller version of the mature adult cockroach. During this stage in the cockroach lifespan, the nymphs have simple eyes and also do not have the protective waxy outer skin yet. Nymphs shed their outer skin about eight times during this stage and grow closer to the physical appearance of the adult cockroach.

ALL GROWN UP: ADULT COCKROACHES

The time from an egg to reaching the final stage in the cockroach life cycle tends to take around 9 to 13 months. By then the cockroach can fly across the room, which is a chilling experience for us, humans.  The cockroach lifespan is as long as five years making it even more important that you stamp them out of existence as soon as you see one in your home. Another revolting fact about these bothersome creatures is that the cockroach lifespan without its head is about one month.

THE RAMIFICATIONS IN THE LIFE OF A COCKROACH

As nymphs slowly evolve towards the final adult stage , they undergo several moltings. During the last and final molt, the roaches attain complete reproductive capabilities as well as developed wings. This usually takes anywhere between six months to a year. The lifespan of a cockroach has been often touted as around two years, but this depends on the environmental conditions as well. Once the roaches have reached their final adult stage, they have the capability to breed and increase their numbers pretty quickly. This is one of the reasons why most homeowners are on the alert as soon as they spot a roach.Even though the roaches have a simple life cycle comprising of only three stages ,they take around nine months before maturing into adult cockroach.