What do cockroach eggs look like?
So why don’t cockroach eggs gross us out? Well, it’s pretty simple. Because while an American cockroach – or any other cockroach, for that matter – may remind us of disease, or a terrifying tarantula, or a repulsive centipede, roach eggs look like:
- Reddish-brown grains of rice
- Tan-coloured capsules
- Oval-shaped beads or mustard seeds
- Small, dark-colored lentils
- Miniature coffee beans.
Not exactly terrifying, right? Well, think again. If you see an American cockroach egg laying about the place, that means you’ve got a population of healthy, reproducing roaches nearby. And not just that, that roach egg casing can trigger your asthma and other allergic reactions, give you diseases like salmonella and gastro, give rise to an army of filthy roaches that spoil your food, spread bacteria and pathogens all over the place, and generally just make us miserable.
What do cockroach eggs look like – and how else can we rapidly identify them? It certainly sounds like we need to know!:
1. Visual appearance
They’re small, their protective casing (called an ootheca) is oval-shaped, and they’re somewhere in the region of reddish-brown or tan, depending on the specific species.
2. Location
You’ll find cockroach eggs in places that are dark, warm, and secluded – and probably strategically placed near potential food and water sources. So, start looking in crevices, cracks, and corners of cabinets, walls, and even appliances.
3. Cluster formation
It’s rare to find a single cockroach egg and no others nearby. That’s because they lay those eggs in clusters – bearing in mind that every single ootheca houses multiple eggs.
4. Ootheca structure
Remember, the egg capsule is called an ootheca, and it’s simply a protective casing for up to 50 cockroach eggs at a time. Apart from looking like mustard seeds or small coffee beans, it’s elongated with visible ridges and grooves.
Found a roach egg casing? What’s next?
Have you stumbled upon a stash of cockroach eggs? It’s not time to panic, but it is time to take action. Let’s start by:
- Picking up the eggs with gloves, placing them in a sealed plastic bag, and throwing them in the trash
- Thoroughly clean and sanitize the entire area, making sure to remove crumbs and other food debris
- Seeking professional cockroach control help, to assist with assessing the extent of the infestation and determining the most appropriate course of action.
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