Bug Identifier
German Cockroach (Nymph)
Community identification

German Cockroach (Nymph)

Blattella germanica

Order & Family
Order: Blattodea; Family: Ectobiidae
Size
Nymphs are approximately 1.5 - 5mm in length; adults range from 13 - 16mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, specifically warm and humid areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. They are hitchhikers often brought in through cardboard boxes, bags, and used appliances.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers. They eat almost anything, including human food scraps, starch, grease, glue, toothpaste, and soap.

Behavior Patterns

Primarily nocturnal and highly social, often found in clusters. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Nymphs, like the one pictured, look like smaller, wingless versions of adults with a dark stripe down their backs.

Risks & Benefits

Significant indoor pests. They can trigger asthma and allergies, and carry pathogens like Salmonella/E. coli by crawling through waste and then onto food surfaces. They offer no beneficial ecosystem services in a domestic setting.