Contrary to what its name might suggest, the German cockroach doesn’t originate in Germany. It most likely came from Southeast Asia like most of its kin. The cockroach found its way to Europe possibly in the 17th century and later to North America.However a German can like other bugs if you live in Ontario. There are some bugs that look like cockroaches Ontario.
It is interesting that in Germany the roach is sometimes referred to as the Russian Roach (Die Russische Schabe) while in Russia, it is sometimes referred to as the Polish Roach.
The German cockroach is the most prevalent species of roach in Canada. It is an aggressive breeder; a female can easily lay 400 eggs in its lifetime. The roach will also eat just about anything and thus secures its survival in an urban setting. Call The Exterminators for cockroach control Toronto services.
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German Cockroach Lifecycle
The entire lifecycle of the German roach consists of egg, nymph and adult.
Egg
Life for a German cockroach begins as an egg inside a protective casing known as ootheca (plural-oothecae). This casing is resilient and contains about 35 eggs. Most species of roaches simply drop the oothecae but the German roach carries this case on its body (in its genital chamber at the rear of the insect) until about two days before hatching. It’s also not uncommon for the eggs to hatch while the case is still attached to the mother’s body.
The ootheca is about 7 mm long and 2 mm wide, brown in colour and purse-shaped.
Nymph
The eggs hatch into tiny roaches known as a nymph. The roaches slowly develop parallel lines on the pronotum and darken in colour to a dark brown. The nymph will moult or shed its exoskeleton about six or seven times before reaching maturity. The nymphs cannot reproduce at this stage and haven’t yet grown wings.
Adult
The final moulting signals the roach’s transition into adulthood. The German cockroach has developed wings by this time and measures about 15 mm long. Although the roach has wings, it will rarely fly but may glide for a short distance if it is disturbed. The roaches are nocturnal and forage at night. The average lifespan of an adult German roach is less than 200 days.
The complete transition from egg to adult takes about 100 days in ideal conditions.
How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches
The best way to deal with a German roach infestation is to hire a licensed exterminator in Toronto. These insects are difficult to exterminate even for professionals. Professional extermination takes 2 to 8 weeks depending on the size of the problem so it is highly unlikely that you will be successful on your own.
The exterminator will also help you to clean up and roach-proof your home to prevent a similar problem in future. Ask for a warranty of at least 6 months to ensure the extermination has been successful. Call us today to book an appointment: 647-496-2211
