What Do Cockroach Eggs Look Like?

Unfortunately, discovering cockroaches in your home is fairly common, but it’s less common to see cockroach eggs lying around. If you’re wondering what cockroach eggs look like, you’re in the right place. 

Finding cockroach eggs is often a sign that there’s an infestation present in your home. Before you hire a local exterminator, use this guide to help determine if you've found a cockroach egg. 

What to Know About Cockroach Eggs

When cockroaches lay eggs, they don’t lay a single egg at a time. Instead, female cockroaches lay an ootheca, which is a sack containing up to 40 eggs. As a homeowner, finding even one ootheca is cause for concern as it could lead to an infestation. You want to know what you're dealing with to find a speedy solution. 

Four primary types of cockroaches are commonly found in homes—American, brown-banded, German, and Oriental—and the eggs from each look quite different compared to the other. The habits of each type can vary, such as where they lay their eggs and how long it takes for them to hatch. When you know what type of ootheca you've found, you're better equipped to deal with the problem. 

American Cockroach Eggs

Mainly found in tropical and subtropical areas, female American cockroaches only need to mate once in their lifetime. The average female American cockroach produces as little as six and as many as 90 ootheca throughout its life. Each ootheca contains about 15 eggs each and takes about 56 days to hatch.

American cockroach ootheca are dark reddish or blackish brown and 8 mm in length. The female carries them for a few hours before depositing them in a safe spot, usually glued to hard surfaces, such as inside kitchen cabinets, near a food source by saliva. Keep in mind that this type of cockroach can fly, giving them access to higher and hidden spots to lay eggs.

Brown-Banded Cockroach Eggs

Brown-banded cockroaches gravitate towards warmer areas, with females laying up to 20 ootheca in their lifetime. Each ootheca contains between 10 to 18 eggs. It can take over three months for the eggs to hatch. 

Brown-banded cockroach eggs are a light reddish-brown and 5 mm in length. Females lay ootheca on rough surfaces such as ceilings, furniture, and walls. Since this type of cockroach will lay their eggs close together, they are often found in clusters. 

German Cockroach Eggs

German cockroaches are the most common type of roach in the United States. A female cockroach will produce between 30 to 40 eggs per ootheca and have a higher reproduction rate compared to other species. 

German cockroach eggs are brown and feature a capsule shape with ridges. The ootheca is about ⅓ inch long. Females will lay their eggs in dark, warm, and humid places such as sinks and cabinets. They carry the ootheca on their back until it's ready to hatch, which usually takes 30 days.

Oriental Cockroach Eggs

Compared with other roach species, the Oriental cockroach thrives in lower temperatures. Females typically produce between one to 18 ootheca per lifetime, each containing about 16 eggs. 

Oriental cockroach eggs are dark reddish-brown or black with a smooth surface measuring ½ inch long. Female roaches will lay their eggs in a warm area close to food and water.

What to Do if You See Cockroach Eggs

If you spot a cockroach egg or egg cluster in your home, take it as a strong sign that you’re facing an infestation. Hire a local bug and insect exterminator to help you eliminate these pests in your home. 

Cockroach exterminator cost ranges from $100 to $600 per treatment and is well worth the investment to rid your home of roaches. Keep in mind that you may need several treatments to eliminate the pests, depending on the size and location of the infestation.