How Small Are Cockroaches When They Hatch?
WouterCockroaches can be quite small when they are just hatching, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously. They can still contaminate the food in your home, and they’re even a potential health risk. The smallest species are German cockroaches, which can grow to be only one-half inch long. Larger species, such as the American Cockroach, can reach up to three inches long. They can be very difficult to get rid of, and you should always try to prevent the infestation before it’s too late.
Adult male cockroaches are large enough to fly, and female cockroaches lay light brown egg cases. The egg cases are about one-fourth inch long, and are glued together in large deposits. A single female can lay over 600 eggs in a year. Adult cockroaches are golden-tan in color and have two black stripes on the pronotum and one between the eyes.
Baby cockroaches are very small, just as small as a grain of rice. They are white at first, but quickly turn brown and develop wings. They grow fast, and mature into fully-grown cockroaches in about three to four months. The lifespan of an adult cockroach is usually around a year.
Cockroaches go through several molting stages before reaching sexual maturity. They can reach sexual maturity in six months to a year after hatching. You can easily tell the difference between a baby cockroach and an adult cockroach by looking for wings.
