Biology and Behavior

 

The German cockroach is a small species of cockroach, measuring about 1/2 in to 3/4 in long. It can be tan through brown to almost black, and has two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is unable to sustain flight. The German cockroach is one of the most common and prominent household cockroaches in the world, and can be found throughout many human settlements. These insects are particularly fond of inhabiting restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, and nursing homes. In colder climates, they are found only near human habitats, since they are not very tolerant to cold. The German cockroach is very successful at establishing a home in buildings, and is very hardy and resilient against attempts at pest control. This is because of the large number of nymphs produced from each egg case, the short period between birth and sexual maturity, and their ability to easily hide due to their small size. The mother also carries the egg case with her during the germination period, rather than depositing it like other species. This cockroach is also smaller than many other species so it can more easily hide and fit into very small cracks and crevices to evade humans