Baby Cockroach: 7 Facts, What they Look Like & 7 Pictures

Baby cockroaches are very interesting little creatures. Did you know they predate the era that held the death of almost all life? Or what about the fact that baby cockroaches may or may not have a dad? We’ve got seven amazing facts and pictures of baby cockroaches so let’s jump in a learn a bit about them!

#1: A Baby Cockroach is Called a Nymph!

First, a baby cockroach is laid as an egg and hatches after about twenty to forty days. Once hatched, the baby cockroach is called a nymph and remains a nymph until it reaches adulthood. 

To make room for new growth, nymphs molt. Molting means that they shed their shells to expose a new, larger shell that lies underneath. Nymphs can molt five to ten times before they’re considered adult cockroaches. 

The adult cockroach is just called an adult, they don’t have a special term. 

#2: Young Cockroaches are Incredibly Sneaky

Chances are if you see a few baby cockroaches roaming around, there are many, many more underneath the surface. Cockroaches go out of their way to keep themselves hidden from your line of sight. 

Baby cockroaches are also very fast, which is another defense mechanism. Since cockroaches are so susceptible to being killed by other animals and humans, they must get creative to ensure their survival. Their speed and ability to hide help them protect themselves from threats.

If you’ve seen some around your home you should take that as a sign you could have a nest. 

#3: You Cannot Sneak Up on a Cockroach Nymph

No matter how hard you try to be stealthy when sneaking up on a baby cockroach nymph, you will never be sneaky enough. The hairs on a baby cockroach alert them when there is movement in the air. 

This special ability makes it virtually impossible for a cockroach to be caught by surprise. This is just another example of a way that the baby cockroach defends itself.

#4: Cockroach Nymphs Can Live Without a Head

Because cockroaches breathe through small holes all over their body and can last up to a month without food, a cockroach doesn’t necessarily need its head to survive. However, it can only go for one week without water. 

So what does that mean for a baby cockroach? They can live up to a week completely headless!

Some species of cockroaches have even been known to regenerate their limbs if lost for some reason. They can also compress their bodies to fit in very small spots that you would never be able to find them in. Cockroaches can fit in cracks that are as small as .33 millimeters wide – that’s about half the width of a penny!

#5: Baby Cockroaches can be Born Without a Dad

Parthenogenesis is the process in which a female cockroach can reproduce without the help of a male cockroach. If you’ve ever wondered how in the world cockroaches can multiply so quickly, this is a huge contributing factor.

However, not all species of cockroaches have this ability. Of the few that can, the most popular type is the American Cockroach.

#6: Cockroach Nymphs are Nearly Indestructible and Very Old

It’s thought by scientists that cockroaches are extremely old, dating back to the Carboniferous Era, which was almost 300 million years ago. There’s certainly a good reason for this. 

If you’re wondering how that’s possible, the answer is simpler than you might think. Baby cockroaches have many evolutionary abilities that make them nearly impossible to kill off. For example, baby cockroaches can survive in the water for up to thirty minutes. The reason they can live without ahead is the same reason they can survive underwater, they breathe through small holes in their bodies. 

#7: Cockroach Babies Have Wings

All cockroaches have wings, but not all of them can fly. Cockroaches, both baby, and adult, are extremely food motivated and most would rather spend their time walking around searching for a meal. Some species of cockroaches that can fly well are the Asian cockroach, the brown roach, wood roach, and many more.