If you see some during the day, it is a sure sign that a tremendous population exists. Cockroaches are scavengers with a wide choice of food. They thrive on the same food humans eat and pollute human food in the process of feeding. Cockroaches carry disease organisms on the loins and bristles of its body, as well as the sticky pads on its feet.

The German cockroach is the most important pest species of cockroach in the United States, as well as the world. It is about 1/2 to 5/8 inch (13-16 mm) long as an adult. Nymphs and adults of both sexes have two dark stripes behind the head. German cockroach adults have wings, but do not fly. The abdomen of females is broad and the end of the abdomen is more rounded than the male. The male has a narrow cigar-shaped abdomen under the wings. Males raise their wings above their bodies while courting females.

Females produce four to eight egg cases (oothecae) in her lifetime, each of which contains 30 to 40 eggs. Development time from egg to adult varies considerably, depending on temperature and humidity. Adults live from 100 to 200 days. Generally there are three to four generations a year, but there may be as many as six under ideal conditions.

German cockroaches live in close contact with humans. This species prefers to live first in kitchens and then bathrooms of homes and apartments. However, they will occur wherever people eat and drink. They are also commonly found in restaurants, supermarkets and hospitals and will feed on almost anything edible.

1. Antenna- long, thin & hairlike
2. Eyes- 2
3. Head- facing downward
4. Legs- 6
5. Wings- covered
6. Pronotum
7. Petiole- none
8. Abdomen- covered by wings
9. Color- light brown to tan
10. Other-longitudinal markings
on pronotum, found indoors

Life Cycle:

The female produces 4-8 egg capsules in her lifetime. Each capsule contains about 30-40 eggs. She carries the capsule until just before the eggs are ready to hatch. This usually takes 28-30 days. Nymphs go through 6-7 instars before becoming adults. The German cockroach population can grow at least 3-4 generations each year, and can complete the life cycle in as few as six weeks, but the average is 14-15 weeks. Adults will live up to ten months.