How many eggs are in a German cockroach egg capsule?
Up to 48, usually 30 to 48, according to Penn State Extension.
Why do German cockroaches keep coming back in a restaurant kitchen?
Short answer
German cockroaches come back because they reproduce faster than any other pest cockroach: one egg capsule holds up to 48 eggs, a female makes four to eight capsules in her life, and she carries the capsule while the eggs develop so more of the young survive.
The roach that lives in kitchens
Penn State Extension calls the German cockroach the most common cockroach in restaurants, apartments, hotels and other institutions. Oklahoma State University Extension notes that during the day it hides in cracks and crevices under kitchen appliances, sinks and cabinets, behind baseboards and moldings, and in wall voids. In commercial sites it is also found in cardboard containers, wooden boxes and under pallets.
Why one spray misses them
On the day of a treatment, there are capsules in the kitchen that have not hatched yet, and some are still being carried by females. A single spray misses them. A few weeks later the nymphs hatch, and it looks like the roaches came back. They never left.
The fix is follow up visits timed to catch what hatches after the first treatment, then a recurring schedule that steps down as activity stops.
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