Baby Roaches (Pictures): 12 Simple Ways to Get Rid of It for Good

Most babies in the animal kingdom are adorable, but baby cockroaches? Far from it. It’s not necessarily their appearance that’s alarming – although they can be creepy, too. What’s most concerning is the fact that baby roaches usually mean you have a nest somewhere in the house.

You’re not dealing with an isolated visit from Bob and Nancy Roach. No, the entire family has taken up shop in your home – somewhere you can’t see.

If you’ve never dealt with a cockroach invasion before, you may be wondering what a baby, or nymph, roach looks like and how to get rid of them for good.

What Do Baby Roaches Look Like?

Like other animals, baby cockroaches are just miniature versions of adult cockroaches. The primary difference between the two (aside from size) is that babies lack the wings their adult counterparts have.

Babies may also be lighter in color than adults. The baby German cockroach, however, is usually darker than adults.

Baby Roach Pictures

These photos will give you a better idea of what baby roaches look like:

Baby Roaches Multiply Fast

many baby roaches

You see insects all over the place and you don’t need to have a meltdown as such, so why is the presence of a baby roach in the kitchen something to fear? We mentioned that seeing one baby roach means there are bound to be more – a baby roach doesn’t suddenly break free from the nest, travel miles and then decide to dwell in a house, they always come in multiple numbers, sometimes highly multiple. Of course, there is the chance that the rogue roach was transported into your home by accident, e.g. in a box, but that is quite an unlikely scenario in the real world.

Cockroaches are fast reproducers. Think about rabbits and put it on high speed and you’re somewhere close! A female cockroach’s egg pouch holds 16 eggs in total, and they produce two of these pouches a week. Can you see how fast that number multiplies? The multiplication goes on, and with half of these babies maturing fast and having their own babies; the risk of a severe infestation is quite high. In addition, if you have German cockroaches, you should worry further, because a female of this type can hatch around 300,000 babies every single year. So, you can imagine the sight of just one baby should have you trying to figure out the best cockroach traps around.

The bottom line here isn’t that a cockroach should have you worried in terms of harm, because they aren’t going to hurt you, other than give you a mild heart attack when you see it scuttling across the floor. The problem is more about the sheer number of them, and how difficult it can be to rid you home of them once the infestation takes hold, which it can do quite rapidly if action isn’t taken.

What Does a Baby Cockroach Look Like?

An adult cockroach has an oval-shaped, flat body that’s oily to the touch. These critters have small heads and are covered by a pronotum. Their mouths are backwards and directed down.

Roaches have six legs that are long and spiny, so they can quickly skitter across surfaces. They also have special little pads at their tarsi that let them walk across ceilings and up walls.

Some roach species have wings that lay flat against their backs, but not all of them use their wings for flight.

Female roaches are usually bigger than males. In some species, the females don’t have wings, but the males do.

To help you get a better idea of what adult roaches look like, here are a few descriptions of the most common species:

  • Baby American cockroaches: Reddish-brown in color and around 40mm in length on average.
  • Baby German cockroaches: Dark brown in color and 13-16mm in length on average.
  • Baby Oriental cockroaches: Black in color and larger than German cockroaches.
  • Baby Pennsylvania wood roaches: Tan in color and about 20mm in length on average.

Identifying (Baby) Cockroach Eggs

If you’re seeing tiny roaches in your home, there’s a good chance there’s a nest in the walls or near your home. Knowing what cockroach eggs look like can help you identify a nest if you’re trying to tackle the problem at its root.

A female cockroach produces an egg case known as an oothecae. A single oothecae can have a large number of eggs, and each is enveloped in a protein substance. That substance eventually hardens to create a protective casing. Some females will drop the egg case, while others will carry it with them until the eggs are just about ready to hatch.

American Cockroach Eggs

Female American roaches will leave dark brown oothecae that are about 8mm long. A single female can make between six and 90 of these cases in her lifetime, and they carry the case with them for anywhere between a few hours and a few days. When she’s ready, the case will be deposited in a hidden location.Roach eggs on white background.

Each oothecae contains about 15 embryos. Babies will emerge from the oothecae in 24-38 days.

Oriental Roach Eggs

The oriental cockroach produces a dark reddish-brown egg case that measures 8-10mm in length. These oothecae have a slightly swollen appearance and contain about 16 eggs.

Females will produce anywhere between one and 18 oothecae in their lifetimes.

Oriental roach nymphs take about 600 days to reach full maturity, but the length of their development is largely dependent on their environment.

Brown-Banded Roach Eggs

The brown-banded roach species creates a light reddish-brown egg case that’s about 5mm long. Females can make up to 20 oothecae in their lifetimes, and each one contains between 10 and 18 embryos.

Nymphs are easily identifiable because they have a signature yellow band across their upper abdomen.

It takes three to six months for brown-banded nymphs to grow into full adults.

German Cockroach Eggs

Female German roaches produces an oothecae that’s brown in color and between 6 and 9 mm long. These females will actually carry the eggs inside until they’re ready to hatch.

Each oothecae can contain up to 50 eggs. It takes about 103 days for a German roach to go from egg to adulthood.

With so many eggs in one oothecae, German roach populations can grow very quickly. Because these are the most common species to invade homes, it’s important to tackle the problem early on before the infestation becomes a serious one.

How Long Do Baby Roaches Stay Babies?

Roaches are just like other insects in that they reach adulthood by going through several molting processes at different stages in their lives. Nymphs hatch from their eggs after 20-60 days.

Eventually, babies will develop wings and complete a series of molts to grow into adults. There’s a transitional phase in between each molt known as an instar. Usually, a baby will go through six to seven instars before becoming a full-grown adult. This process takes between 40 and 160 days, depending on the species of the roach and the temperature of the environment.

The Risks of Having Baby Roaches in the House

No one likes having roaches in their home, but can they be a risk to your health? What about baby roaches? Can they cause damage, too?

Yes, yes and yes.

Baby and adult roaches can both carry disease, which can spread quickly throughout your home if you don’t act swiftly.

Roaches feed on garbage and they breed in sewage. Babies can just as easily carry viruses and bacteria on their bodies, and spread these germs around your home. They can contaminate food and food surfaces in the blink of an eye.

And in case you didn’t know: roaches can carry up to 30 different species of bacteria that can cause: plague, diarrhea, viral diseases, cholera, dysentery, leprosy, typhoid fever and other diseases. 

The last thing you want is to have your family get sick because some roaches decided to invade your home. Tackling the problem early on (and keeping your home clean) can help prevent this from happening.

Along with disease, baby roaches can also affect people who suffer from respiratory conditions, like allergies and asthma. You may notice that you’re coughing and sneezing more than usual because of the roaches in your home. Roaches produce a type of protein that can trigger an allergic reaction in humans.

Baby and adult roaches can cause these symptoms because of their molted shells. Baby roaches leave these shells in large numbers as they go through each stage of molting. They can be left all over the house, which can trigger symptoms at any time and virtually anywhere in your home.

Roach saliva, waste and even dead bodies can all trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks in certain people.

And if you fail to take care of your baby roach problem, you’re going to wind up with a serious infestation in the very near future. If you’re seeing small cockroaches, it means the adults are reproducing and there’s a nest nearby. They certainly won’t stop reproducing because you ask them to. You’ll need to take care of the problem – sooner rather than later.

Mating cockroaches on ground.You know that German roaches can lay up to 50 eggs at a time. Imagine having 50 new baby roaches suddenly emerge in your home – not a pretty picture. And females will produce several egg cases throughout her lifetime.

Baby roaches are a sure sign that you have an infestation somewhere in your home or building. The roaches are obviously reproducing, and the babies are hatching. It’s only a matter of time before you have a serious infestation and potential health hazard on your hands.

Every baby roach that’s in your home has the potential to produce hundreds of more roaches. Populations can easily get out of hand – and quickly – if you don’t take steps to remedy the problem now.

The bottom line? Don’t wait around to see if these risks emerge. Get rid of the roaches as soon as you see them to prevent a serious infestation.

Understanding Baby Roach Behavior

Now that you understand the risks of letting roaches hang around, it’s time to start taking steps to get rid of them. Having a good understanding of how roaches behave and operate will help you find the best strategy to chase them out of your home for good.

Roaches Live in Groups, but Aren’t Social

Cockroaches aren’t particularly social creatures, but they do prefer to live in groups. Interestingly, roaches make the decision of where to live as a group. In one study from Free University of Brussels, researchers found that when a space was large enough, the entire group stayed there. When a space was not large enough, the larger group split up into two smaller groups to fit into the enclosures comfortably.

Roaches May Have Collective Intelligence

Other studies suggest that roaches may actually have collective intelligence that’s based on the decisions of individual roaches.

A group of researchers in Europe created a roach robot that mimicked their behavior. Pheromones were applied to the robot, so the other roaches would accept it as one of their own.

The researchers found that that act of the robot roach influenced the behavior of the group overall. For instance, the robot roach convinced the group to move from darker areas to lighter areas.

Researchers say they may be able to use this to their advantage to control roach populations.

How to Get Rid of Baby Cockcoaches for Good

Want to learn how to get rid of roaches in the house? The process is no different than what you’d do for adult roaches, and every method will work just as well no matter whether the roaches are in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.

Use the methods below to effectively kill and get rid of the roaches in your home.

1. Seal Up Holes and Cracks

Caulk and foam will keep new roaches from getting into your home. And if they haven’t set up a nest inside your home yet, caulking may be the only thing you need to do to get rid of them.

The first thing you need to do is locate any potential entry points for the roaches. These are areas that may have cracks or gaps that these critters can crawl through, including:

  • Baseboards and molding
  • Interior pipes
  • Walls and floors
  • Decks, porches and steps
  • The roof
  • Doors
  • Windows
  • Exterior pipes
  • The home’s foundation

Go through each of these areas with a fine tooth comb to look for cracks or holes, and mark off which areas need to be treated.

The next step is to fill in the gap with either caulk or foam. Which one should you choose?

  • Use caulk for gaps that are smaller than 1/2”, areas that require a flexible seal (such as joints), areas that are easily visible and require detailed work.
  • Use foam for larger gaps that are bigger than 1/2”, cavities that are hard to reach, dry areas with little-to-no moisture, or instances where insulation is needed.

How to Use Caulk to Seal Cracks and Gaps

  1. Clean the surface area. Remove any old caulk from the area and clean off dirt or loose debris with a caulk-removing tool or cloth.
  2. Apply masking tape on each side of the crack to create a straight edge.
  3. Prepare the caulk tube. Start by cutting the nozzle to the appropriate length and piercing the inner seal with a knife or stiff object. Place the tube in the caulking gun.
  4. Squeeze the gun with consistent pressure for even application of the caulk.
  5. Use your finger or a smoothing tool to smooth out the caulk.
  6. Remove the masking tape.

How to Use Foam to Seal Cracks and Gaps

  1. Put on the appropriate safety gear, including gloves, goggles, protective clothing and respiratory protection.
  2. Shake the foam can vigorously for about a minute.
  3. Screw the dispenser onto the can valve, taking care not to activate the valve.
  4. Invert the can and depress the trigger to apply the foam to openings.
  5. Release the trigger about five seconds before you reach the end point, making sure you keep the straw moving all the way to the end.
  6. If the crack or gap is deep, allow the foam to cure completely before applying a new layer. Leave uncured foam untouched.
  7. Trim excess cured foam as needed.
  8. If the foam is exposed to sunlight, it must be stained or painted.

2. Clean Your Home

Once you’ve sealed up all the cracks and gaps in your home, it’s time to tidy up the place. Keeping your home clean is the first (technically, second) step to getting rid of cockroaches.

Roaches are only in your home for three reasons: food, water and shelter. You have plenty of each. If you eliminate food, they have little reason to stick around. And if you can also keep them from getting to any water sources, they’ll be out even quicker (or they’ll be dead).

  • Don’t leave food out in the open – ever. Keep all opened bags or boxes of food in sealed, airtight containers or Ziploc bags.
  • Wash dirty dishes immediately. Do not leave any leftover food on your plate – scrape your plates into the garbage.
  • Take out the trash regularly. Garbage will keep the roaches around, so make sure you take out the trash on a regular basis.
  • Clean thoroughly underneath and behind appliances, like the oven and refrigerator. Food crumbs have a way of sneaking into these areas, and roaches love to frequent these spots because they’re so dark.An adhesive cockroach trap with a visiting cockroach.
  • Wipe down your counters at least once a day, but particularly after eating or preparing food.
  • Sweep and clean the floor after cooking to remove any leftover food particles.

3. Use Roach Traps

Experts suggest using traps before you run around spraying roaches with bug spray or laying down powders. Why?

Traps will let you see if you’ve caught any roaches, and how many you may be dealing with. If you haven’t caught any of these critters, you can move the trap to a new location to find out where they’re coming from.

Once you’ve figured out where the cockroaches are coming from, you can use powders or sprays if you like.

4. Use a Natural Roach Repellent

If you’re not keen on the idea of spraying poison or laying down powder throughout your home, there are natural roach repellents you can use. Research has shown that the following repellents are actually effective:

  • Eucalyptol, or ceneole, which is found in bay leaves. Leave dried bay leaves in areas where the roaches are frequenting to keep them away.
  • Nepetalactone, which is found in catnip. Leave catnip where the roaches are hanging around, or place it inside cracks or gaps to keep them out of the home.
  • Osage orange oil. Scientists still aren’t sure which active ingredient in this oil repels roaches, but they do know that it works very well for this purpose.

A bag of borax on white background.Natural repellents are great for keeping roaches out of your home, but do be advised that this is not the best route to take if you’re dealing with an infestation.

5. Borax

Borax is another simple solution that can get rid of roaches relatively quickly. This simple powder, which is typically used as a household cleaner and laundry booster, dries out the roach’s exoskeleton, so they dehydrate and die.

Borax isn’t an instant killer, but they will drag the powder back to their nest where they may infect other roaches.

Sprinkle borax where roaches tend to frequent – behind or underneath appliances, kitchen counters, etc.

While borax is mostly non-toxic, you should not leave it out where kids and pets can reach it.

6. Soap and Water

If you’re dealing with just a few roaches, you can use a simple soap and water spray to kill them. Yes, roaches can survive in water, but it’s not the water that’s supposed to kill them.Basin with soap suds and water on white background.

The soap clogs their pores, which causes them to suffocate and die.

7. Boric Acid and Sugar

Boric acid is another excellent roach killer, and it works in a similar way that borax works. But boric acid is more toxic than borax, so keep that in mind and do remember to keep it out of reach of kids and pets.

The boric acid will kill the roach, but the sugar is what will attract him to the area.

Once the acid comes in contact with the roach, it will dry out its exoskeleton, causing it to dehydrate and die.

The only downside to using this method is that you’ll have to clean up a lot of dead roaches in the morning.

Tip: Please do take the time to clean up the dead bodies. Other living roaches have no problem eating their dead, so you’re leaving behind a food source for nest mates to come feast on. Also, dead roaches can produce a stench that no one wants to deal with.

8. Get Rid of All Standing Water

If the roaches aren’t after food, they’re definitely after water. If you have standing water anywhere in your home, you’re basically inviting roaches to come inside and stay awhile.

Something as simple as soaking water in the sink or forgetting to let the water out of the bathtub can attract roaches. And if you have leaky pipes, you’re just asking for an invasion.

Fix any leaks and stop leaving standing water in your home to deny roaches the water they desperately need to live.

You can also go the extra mile by using a dehumidifier in your home to get rid of any moisture in the air that may be attracting these pests.

9. Hire an Exterminator

Sometimes, the DIY approach does not get rid of the problem – especially if you have a serious infestation. In this case, you’ll need to hire a professional exterminator to get rid of your roach problem once and for all.

And if you live in an apartment building, an exterminator may be your only real option.

A professional will have the tools, skill and knowledge to know where to find the nest and the best possible strategy to eliminate roaches from your home.

Please note that exterminators will use chemical sprays, or poison, to get rid of the roaches. Let them know if you have pets or children, so you know how to proceed without putting anyone at risk.

Some exterminators may offer alternative solutions, but most will go with the tried-and-true chemical spray to get rid of the roaches.

10. Use Cockroach Sprays

Cockroach Sprays

These sprays are designed to work on small nests and infestations, so that means you need to know where the roaches are coming from in the first place. If you have figured it out, a killer spray could be a good option, and one which is very readily available and quite lost cost. You should certainly target the popular areas for roaches to hand out too, such cracks, doors, windows, and crevices. If you see a roach running free, spray it too – bear in mind they are very fast, despite their size

11. Buy a Cockroach Bait (Read Review Here)

The word ‘bait’ gives it away. You’re basically luring them out so you can kill them from the source. This method is also much cheaper than hiring an exterminator to come into your home, so this is a good first option before you realize you need to up your game even further. Cockroaches aren’t the easiest things to kill, so it could very well be that you need to enlist the help of the professionals in the end, if your efforts haven’t worked, and if the infestation is growing.

Cockroach Bait

Cockroach bait works on the idea that when baby roaches come out of their nests looking for something to eat, they will take the bait and go back to their nest with it. Not only will this be poisonous to that particular baby roach, therefore killing it, but it will also go back to the nest with them, and kill even more, therefore targeting the source. We should also mention that it is not unusual for adult roaches to kill their own offspring if they are hungry enough, so if a roach has gone back to the nest and died, eating that dead roach will mean that particular roach also dies, by proxy.

Of course, you will need to set the bait around your kitchen, or wherever they are, and you will need to be careful that small hands, e.g. children, or pets don’t come into contact with the bait accidentally. Gel baits are very popular and they are quite low cost too, so this is something you could think about, provided you’re careful with the aforementioned pets and children around your home, of course.

12. Use Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)

An IGR won’t kill the roaches outright, but it will prevent them from reaching maturity and reproducing. IGRs play such an important role in extermination because they keep the problem from getting worse.

Let’s say that you use a roach fogger in your home, but there are a few stragglers left behind. Those few roaches can easily repopulate the dead roaches, compounding your problem and forcing you start back at square one.

But if you use an IGR, those straggler roaches won’t be able to reproduce. Once they’re dead, your roach problem is dead.

IGRs work by providing roaches with juvenile hormones, which prevent babies from molting and turning into adults.

10 Incredible Roach Facts You Might Not Know

  1. A newly-hatched cockroach, which is about the size of a grain of sand, can run almost as fast as an adult roach.
  2. Roaches can live for up to a week without their heads. They have an open circulatory system, so they don’t need their mouths or heads to breathe. The only reason they die is because they can’t drink or eat without a head.
  3. It’s estimated that cockroaches are 280 million years old and originated in the Carboniferous era.
  4. Roaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes at a time, and can survive underwater for up to 30 minutes.
  5. How fast can roaches run? Up to three miles an hour. These quick critters can spread bacteria and germs quickly with speeds that fast.
  6. The largest cockroach is six inches in length and has a one-foot wingspan.
  7. There are over 4,000 different cockroach species across the globe.
  8. Roaches can also live without food for a month because they’re cold-blooded. But they can only survive one week without water.
  9. The American cockroach is particularly attracted to beer and other alcoholic beverages.
  10. The average roach lives up to one year.

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