How Old Does a Cockroach Have to Be to Lay Eggs?
WouterTo lay eggs, a female cockroach must mate at least once, and she will produce up to three batches of fertilized eggs in succession. In addition, she will store sperm in an internal storage compartment, and use it only when she is ready to reproduce. Her eggs are shaped like a brown pill, and they measure between half and one-fourth of an inch in length. Female cockroaches need ample food and water to remain healthy.
Various species of cockroaches have different reproductive cycles. For example, the American cockroach lays eggs in a hard capsule called an ootheca. The ootheca is produced about a week after mating, and it will be present for several days before hatching. A female German cockroach can lay up to fifty eggs during its reproductive period. Incubation takes 28 days for the eggs to hatch. American roaches usually give birth to 150 to 225 nymphs in their lifetime. Oriental cockroaches have a gestation period of up to 180 days, and the egg case is carried for as many as five days.
In addition to egg-laying, cockroaches are also capable of protecting their young. Females will usually stick the egg casing near food sources and warm places. They also prefer hiding in damp places that are close to food sources. In addition, the eggs of cockroaches blend into hard surfaces. In some species, the ootheca of the female cockroach is attached to her body.
