German cockroaches are awesome!
Their small size (adults - 13-16mm), flattened bodies (which allows them to squeeze into and thrive inside tight cracks and cervices), being highly adaptable omnivores (with the ability to feed on anything of nutritive value), adaptation to warm and humid environments (especially inside kitchens and food production areas), there short developmental period (egg to adult in 53 days) and the high reproductive capacity makes these indoor dwelling cockroaches the most important and most common insect pest encountered in residential, commercial properties and food establishments.
The battle against the German cockroach is the main source of service activity and income for pest management professionals.
Just recently I had a close encounter on truly how high the reproductive capacity of these cockroaches are! I got to observed a female German cockroach with its newly hatched egg capsule (ootheca) stuck in a glueboard. The female cockroach got captured on the sticky surface, releasing its mature ootheca and upon emergence all of nymphs also got captured.
I was amazed to observe and count that there were 45 cockroach nymphs which emerged from the ootheca! Again 45 cockroach nymphs from just a single ootheca! (An average 30-40 eggs is reported in literature). We must also bear in mind that the female cockroach can produce 4-8 ootheca in her life span of 200 days. Doing the math will reveal to us how fast the population build up of cockroaches can be especially when favorable conditions (moisture, food and harborage areas) are present.
It is also important to note, that compared to the other cockroach species, the German cockroach female carries the ootheca 1-2 days before hatching and carefully depositing it in a hidden area (some form of maternal protection) thus ensuring higher egg capsule survivability and safety against predators and parasites.
Cockroaches are indeed pests! But it is important to ponder that the growth of their population inside human premises is brought about by the numerous favorable factors we humans tend to give these insects. Food, moisture, harborage sites and filthy conditions are what we humans consciously or unconsciously provide for these very adaptable and opportunistic insects!
Lastly, focus inspection, focus treatment procedures and a focus sanitation program are key in winning any battle with these highly reproductive indoor dwelling cockroaches.
German cockroaches are truly awesome!
Awesome creature! Awesome Creator!
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