Baby cockroaches are more technically known as nymph cockroaches. If you see one of these newborn pests in your house, there's most likely a nest nearby, which means you're either in the middle of a cockroach
Finding baby roaches signals that, at the very least, there are a few adults nearby and they're ready to reproduce again. Once you find baby German cockroaches, it's time to act… fast. In about two months, those babies will be fully developed and ready to start having babies of their own.
No matter the species, all baby cockroaches have six spiny legs and two long, thin antennae. But at the earlier instar stages, the legs and antennae might be too small or thin to see clearly without magnification. Their length and appearance may also differ depending on the species.
Baby cockroaches, also known as cockroach nymphs, can be just as dangerous as their adult counterparts, as they spend their time crawling through pipes and eating their own feces, as well as carrying several disease-causing viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.
Look for Shed Skin and Egg Casings
One of the most obvious signs of an active cockroach nest is shed skin, which cockroaches molt as they grow. Another sign is egg casings, which look like small brown capsules. Look for these items near baseboards, cupboards, and other areas where roaches might be nesting.
Citronella
Citronella not only works great for repelling mosquitos but also cockroaches. While the candles don't work well against roaches, you can use citronella oil as a deterrent. You can mix it with water and use it as a spray or simply wipe down areas with the diluted mixture.
Left out food, waste, garbage, clutter, moisture, heat, and darkness are all things that attract roaches. As you might expect, this means they're most likely to be found in areas like kitchens, basements, and cluttered or dirty areas. But—you don't have to have a dirty home to have cockroaches.
Roach Repellents
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
Vinegar is a natural household ingredient that can repel and kill cockroaches. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water, and then spray it directly onto the roaches when spotted. The strong odour and acidity of vinegar can be effective in eliminating them instantly.
If cockroaches get enough borax on the outside of their bodies, it actually damages their exoskeletons. This causes them to rapidly dehydrate and die; a thick coating of borax will certainly get rid of roaches overnight.
Can Baby Cockroaches Fly? Nymphs cannot fly because their wings do not fully develop until the baby roach becomes an adult. However, they can still move quickly when they need to.
Pine-Sol and Fabuloso are strong, all-purpose household cleaners. Similar to bleach, these products kill roaches on contact. Some homeowners suggest spraying Pine-Sol around the outside of your house to keep cockroaches away.
Taking a deep drink of household bleach would kill anything, roaches included. But the same strong odor that keeps people from taking a swig of bleach repels roaches as well. So though it could work, in reality, it will not. It is very difficult to kill an entire roach infestation yourself.
Signs of a cockroach infestation
If you see tiny cockroaches, then you may have an infestation. An infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible, because it will grow much more quickly than you would imagine due to how quickly cockroaches can reproduce and move through their life cycle to adulthood.
What Are German Cockroaches? German cockroaches are small, but they are mighty. They are hard to get rid of without the help of a professional exterminator, and even then, their rapid reproductive cycle makes it a chore to evict every last egg, nymph and adult.
Other cockroach species are usually afraid of the light and will try to adapt their habits in such a manner as to avoid altogether being caught in the light. Both artificial and natural light is an enemy of cockroaches, and they will always stick to their warm dark corners when there is a light on.
Don't be afraid to spray in your cabinets and pantry, your bathroom and other areas where you don't want to find roaches. Tip: If you're also using baits to kill cockroaches, don't spray peppermint oil on the baits.
Cockroaches are not truly social insects (like honey bees or termites). As such, they do not have a queen. However, they are considered 'gregarious' and tend to congregate during rest times (generally the daytime). Depending on the size of their refuge, groups can number in the millions.
Add food. What is this? Another way to lure cockroaches out of hiding – and to make either commercial glue traps or poisoned bait more effective – is to also use food as an additional lure. Breadcrumbs or baby food can be effective lures to draw cockroaches out of their nests and into your traps.
Roaches lay their eggs in any safe place that is damp or hidden. They like to be close to food while still being far enough away from human reach. American roach eggs: Female American cockroaches glue their oothecae to hard surfaces, like your cupboards, or cardboard near a food source.
Windex is toxic to most pests, especially spiders. Spraying window cleaner directly onto small insects like ants or mosquitoes will kill them within a few moments. For cockroaches, window cleaner can make them temporarily unconscious so that you can squash them.