German Cockroach Facts for Kids

A Picture of a German cockroach
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Blattodea
  • Family: Ectobiidae
  • Genus: Blattella
  • Species: Blattella germanica

14 German Cockroach Facts for Kids

  1. The German cockroach is a common species of cockroach.
  2. The binomial name for the German cockroach is Blattella germanica.
  3. A German cockroach has coloring between tan to almost back, with two parallel dark streaks that run from the pronotum to the base of the wings.
  4. The German cockroach does have wings, but are very poor at flying, they can glide when threatened.
  5. German cockroaches are nocturnal by nature, but in a structure with a very dense population its possible to see them during the day.
  6. The average size of a German cockroach is between 0.43 and 0.63 inches.
  7. The average lifespan of a German cockroach is between 100 and 200 days.
  8. The average span between egg and adulthood for a German cockroach is between 50 and 60 days.
  9. The German cockroach is an omnivore, and they scavenge for food and will eat just about anything that is edible.
  10. German cockroaches will turn to cannibalism in conditions where food becomes scarce or non-existent.
  11. A German cockroach will release an awful smelling order if it’s threatened or gets excited.
  12. The German cockroach is the worst domestic pest of all cockroach species.
  13. The German cockroach can breed and produce offspring faster than any other common cockroach pest. This allows them to populate manmade structures rapidly.
  14. The German cockroach has become resistance to some insecticides, making it harder to eradicate an infestation.

Additional Resources with German Cockroach Facts