Pest Library · West Texas
German Cockroaches
Small, fast and hard to get rid of. If you see little tan roaches in the kitchen at night, this is the one to learn about.
Quick answer
The German cockroach is a small tan roach, about ½ to ⅝ inch long, with two dark stripes behind its head. It lives indoors in kitchens and baths, breeds fast and hides in tiny cracks. Baits placed in those cracks, steady cleanup and sealing are what work. Store sprays often make it worse.
How to Identify Them
Look for:
- A light brown body about ½ to ⅝ inch long
- Two dark stripes on the shield behind the head
- Wings that reach the end of the body, though they don't fly
- Babies (nymphs) that are darker, wingless and have a stripe running down the back
The big reddish brown roaches you find in the garage after rain are a different kind, usually American roaches. Those come in from outside. German roaches are indoor bugs. Texas A&M AgriLife says they do not live outdoors in Texas, so if you see them, they are breeding inside.
The Egg Case
German cockroach eggs come in a small, tan, bean shaped case called an ootheca. Each case holds about 30 to 40 eggs. Unlike many roaches, the female carries the case on the tip of her body until it is almost ready to hatch. That keeps the eggs safe from most sprays.
If you see a roach with a little brown capsule sticking out the back end, you are looking at a female about to add dozens more to your kitchen.
How They Behave
These roaches spend most of their time packed into narrow cracks. AgriLife says they spend about 75 percent of their life in gaps only 1/32 to 3/16 inch wide. They come out at night to look for food and water.
Favorite spots include:
- Hinges and corners of kitchen cabinets
- Behind and under the fridge, stove and dishwasher
- Inside microwaves, coffee makers and toasters
- Under sinks and around pipes
- Bathroom cabinets and behind the toilet
Warmth speeds them up. AgriLife puts their best temperature near 80°F, and a new generation can come along in about 100 days. Seeing them out in the daytime usually means a large number is hiding.
Why They Matter
They walk through garbage and drains, then across counters and dishes. AgriLife links them to germs, allergies and asthma. For a restaurant, a few can cause a failed health inspection. For a family, they mean food tossed out and a kitchen that never feels clean.
They also spread. They ride in boxes, grocery bags, used appliances and furniture. In apartments, they move from unit to unit through walls and pipes.
How to Stop Them
This roach is one of the hardest pests to clear without help. These steps make a real difference:
- Clean crumbs and grease, especially behind and under appliances.
- Keep food in sealed containers and don't leave pet food out overnight.
- Fix drips under sinks.
- Check boxes and used appliances before bringing them in.
- Seal gaps around pipes and cabinet backs.
- Skip foggers and store sprays. They scatter roaches and can make baits less appealing.
Your technician will use gel baits in the cracks where roaches live, plus products that stop young roaches from growing up. Follow up visits catch the new nymphs that hatch from protected egg cases. See roach control for the full plan, or read why you have roaches all of a sudden. For restaurants and apartment buildings, see commercial pest control.
German Roach FAQs
Why do I have German roaches in a clean house?
They ride in on boxes, grocery bags, used furniture and appliances. In apartments, they can move in from next door. A clean kitchen makes them easier to control, but it does not stop them from arriving. Once inside, a little grease and a leaky pipe are enough.
Can this roach live outside?
AgriLife says they do not live outdoors in Texas. They need the warmth and food a building gives them. So if you find small striped roaches indoors, they are almost surely breeding inside your home, often near the kitchen or bathroom, not walking in from the yard.
How fast do they spread?
Very fast. Each egg case holds 30 to 40 eggs, and a new generation can mature in about 100 days in warm conditions. A few roaches can become hundreds in a few months, which is why early treatment saves a lot of trouble later.
Do bug bombs work on German cockroaches?
Not well. Foggers don't reach deep into the cracks where most of them hide, and they can push roaches into new rooms. Gel baits placed right in the cracks work far better, because roaches eat the bait and share it in the hiding spot.
Same Day Service Available
Get Help With Kitchen Roaches
Seeing small roaches at night? Request a free inspection. Your technician will find where they hide and set up a bait plan.
Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.
Pest Library
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Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cockroach Biology and Management (E 359): https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/07/E-359-Cockroach-biology-and-management-2012.pdf
- Texas A&M AgriLife, Field Guide to Common Texas Insects, German Cockroach: https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/blattodea/german-cockroach/
- EPA, Integrated Pest Management Principles: https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/integrated-pest-management-ipm-principles