Brown Banded Cockroach Egg Case (Ootheca)
Scientific Name: Supella longipalpa
Order & Family: Order Blattodea, Family Blattellidae
Size: Ootheca is approximately 4 to 5 mm long (about 1/4 inch).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in warm, dry areas of homes, often high up in kitchen cabinets, behind picture frames, or in electronics and appliance motors.
Diet & Feeding
Scavengers that consume starchy foods like book bindings and wallpaper paste, as well as organic debris, crumbs, and grease.
Behavior Patterns
The female carries the ootheca for about 24-48 hours before attaching it to a surface (like a wall or furniture). Each case contains about 10-18 embryos and has a long incubation period (approximately 50-75 days).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include being a structural pest that can contaminate food, trigger allergies/asthma, and potentially spread pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They have no significant ecosystem benefits in a domestic indoor setting.
Identified on: 4/24/2026