Life cycle of a cockroach Some cockroaches can live for up to one year. Egg-nymph-adult Female cockroaches lay many eggs enclosed in a casing. The eggs range from 5-10mm and are easily visible. Each ootheca has 15-40 eggs. The cockroaches do this in places where they cannot be detected; under furniture, in dark corners etc. the females carry the ootheca until the eggs hatch; this happens in about 2-8 weeks. They are now called nymphs which are smaller and wingless. These will then shed their skins several times during early development for up to even 3 months. Some even take more time. At this stage, according to Advance Pest Control experts, are now adults. They vary in size depending on the type of cock roach they are. The American cockroach has the longest lifespan of up to 3 years during which it’s turning from nymph to adult. Habitat Cockroaches are found in houses especially in cupboards, cabinets, or in sewages, drains, and pipes. They are generally found in places that are warm, moist and have food. Some of these places are hard to reach in order to kill these annoying pests hence the reason you should always think of hiring experts in this area such as our team for Cockroach control in Surrey or Cockroach control in Richmond. Characteristics Cockroaches are small insects, brown or white color depending on the stage of development they are in or the type of roach they are, ranging from tiny to over 10cm in size. They have wings and can fly depending on the age. There are four major types of cockroaches: American cockroaches This cockroach was brought into America from Africa during the Slave -Trade Era. It is the biggest cockroach of all. They are reddish brown in color, oval, have 6 legs, wings and antenna. They eat plants and other insects. Brown-banded cockroaches They have two light bands across their brownish bodies hence their names. They hide their eggs in furniture. They live up to 6 months. They are oval in shape, have 6 legs, wings and antenna. They prefer starchy foods and also your clothes. Unlike other roaches, they prefer living in drier places. German cockroaches They are the most common roaches in the Unites States. They can live between 100-200 days. They range from brown to dark brown, oval, have 6 legs, have wings and antenna. They eat sweet and floury food and you could find them in your toothpaste too. Oriental cockroaches Just like the American roaches, they owe their origin to Africa. They are darker and larger than the other roaches. The most distinct thing about them, at least according to pest control experts Cockroach control Port Moody, is the smell and the dirt they have. They are dark brown to almost black, have 6 legs, wings and antenna. They feed on garbage.