There are many cockroaches species, and a few of them are household pests. However, all cockroaches have a different lifespan, so we will be only discussing household pests.
I will post the lifespan of German Roach, American Roach, Oriental Roach (aka waterbug without the space, Water Bug with a space is a different thing), Brown-Banded roach, Asian Roach, and Australian Roach. Let’s see how long do cockroaches live and what makes them so resilient.
Below is a summary of how long a roach can live under IDEAL conditions depending upon its specie:
Cockroach Specie | Baby Nymphs to Adult | Number of Molts | Adult to Death (Male) | Adult to Death (Female) | Total Lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
German Roach1 | 90 Days | 6-7 Molts | 100-150 Days | 190-200 Days | 250-300 Days |
American Roach2 | 168-786+ Days | 10-13 Molts | 100-450 Days | 102-588 Days | 800-1000 Days |
Oriental Roach3 | 168-900 Days | 7-10 Molts | 35-180 Days | 110-160 Days | 270-1000 Days |
Brown Banded Roach4 | 90-276 Days | 6-8 Molts | 130-315 Days | 130-315 Days | 220-570 Days |
Asian Roach5 | 60-90 Days | 6-7 Molts | 40-80 Days | 90-150 Days | 150-220 Days |
Australian Roach6 | 180-360 Days | 10-12 Molts | 90-120 Days | 120-180 Days | 300-540 Days |
The total lifespan of a cockroach significantly varies with temperature, humidity, and food availability. Roaches can develop and complete their lifecycle quite fastly under ideal conditions. Also, note that the figures given above in the table are average lifespans of cockroaches.
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Roach Lifespan of Different Species
Different cockroaches have a different lifespan depending upon their origin, habitat, and evolution. Roaches appeared for the first time millions of years ago, and all species have evolved differently over the years.
Below is a comprehensive summary of each roach’s lifespan in days, weeks, and months.
German Cockroach Lifespan
A German cockroach hatches from an embryo in 28-30 days. A baby german roach will molt into 6-7 instar phases in 90 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 100-150 days. A female german roach will live 190-200 days, and in this period, it will produce 4-6 egg sacks containing around 30-50 individual eggs.
German Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 28-30 Days | 4-5 weeks | 1 Month |
Nymphs to Adults | 90 Days | 10-13 Weeks | 3-4 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 100-150 Days | 14-21 Weeks | 3-5 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 190-200 Days | 27-30 Weeks | 6-7 Months |
Total Lifespan | 250-300 Days | 35-42 Weeks | 8-10 Months |
American Cockroach Lifespan
An American cockroach hatches from an embryo in 40-50 days. An American baby roach will molt into 10-13 instar phases in 168-786 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 100-450 days. A female American roach will live 102-588 days, and in this period, it will produce 8-12 egg sacks containing around 14-16 individual eggs.
American Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 40-50 Days | 6-7 weeks | 1-2 Months |
Nymphs to Adults | 168-786+ Days | 24-100 Weeks | 6-24 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 100-450 Days | 14-70 Weeks | 4-16 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 102-588 Days | 14-84 Weeks | 4-20 Months |
Total Lifespan | 250-300 Days | 120-140 Weeks | 26-36 Months |
Oriental Cockroach Lifespan
An Oriental cockroach (Aka Water bug) hatches from an embryo in 42-81 days. A baby oriental roach will molt into 7-10 instar phases in 168-900 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 35-180 days. A female Oriental roach will live 110-160 days, and in this period, it will produce 12-18 egg sacks containing around 16-20 individual eggs.
Oriental Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 42-81 Days | 6-12 weeks | 1-3 Months |
Nymphs to Adults | 168-900 Days | 24-130 Weeks | 5-30 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 35-180 Days | 5-26 Weeks | 1-6 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 110-160 Days | 15-23 Weeks | 4-6 Months |
Total Lifespan | 270-1000 Days | 38-140 Weeks | 9-33 Months |
Brown Banded Roach Lifespan
A Brown Banded cockroach hatches from an embryo in 30-46 days. A baby brown-banded roach will molt into 6-8 instar phases in 90-276 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 130-315 days. A female brown-banded roach will live 130-315 days, and in this period, it will produce 10-14 egg sacks containing around 10-16 individual eggs.
Brown Banded Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 30-46 Days | 4-6 weeks | 1-1.5 Months |
Nymphs to Adults | 90-276 Days | 13-40 Weeks | 3-9 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 130-315 Days | 18-45 Weeks | 4-11 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 130-315 Days | 18-45 Weeks | 4-11 Months |
Total Lifespan | 220-570 Days | 30-80 Weeks | 7-19 Months |
Asian Cockroach Lifespan
An Asian cockroach hatches from an embryo in 28-30 days. A baby Asian roach will molt into 6-7 instar phases in 60-90 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 40-80 days. A female Asian roach will live 90-150 days, and in this period, it will produce 4-6 egg sacks containing around 30-40 individual eggs.
Asian Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 28-30 Days | 4-5 weeks | 1 Month |
Nymphs to Adults | 60-90 Days | 8-13 Weeks | 2-3 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 40-80 Days | 5-12 Weeks | 1-3 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 90-150 Days | 13-21 Weeks | 3-5 Months |
Total Lifespan | 150-220 Days | 30-80 Weeks | 5-7 Months |
Australian Cockroach Lifespan
An Australian cockroach hatches from an embryo in 36-42 days. An Australian baby roach will molt into 10-12 instar phases in 180-360 days to become an adult roach. An adult male roach will live an additional 90-120 days. A female Australian roach will live 120-180 days, and in this period, it will produce 12-18 egg sacks containing around 20-26 individual eggs.
Australian Roach | Days | Weeks | Months |
---|---|---|---|
Eggs to Nymphs | 36-42 Days | 5-6 weeks | 1-1.5 Month |
Nymphs to Adults | 180-360 Days | 26-52 Weeks | 6-12 Months |
Adults to Death (Male) | 90-120 Days | 12-15 Weeks | 3-4 Months |
Adults to Death (Female) | 120-180 Days | 15-25 Weeks | 4-6 Months |
Total Lifespan | 300-540 Days | 42-77 Weeks | 10-18 Months |
What Effects a Lifespan of a Cockroach?
Ideally, a roach needs dark, moist, and damp places to survive; however, due to its adjustable qualities, it can pull through any kind of environmental conditions except when it gets too much to handle.
Here is the list of things that make a cockroach love to infest homes and buildings. The cockroach life expectancy depends on these factors.
Temperature vs a Cockroach Lifespan
The growth and lifespan of a cockroach are highly dependent on the temperature around itself. According to research by the University of Florida, adult American Cockroach females live about 440 days at ordinary room conditions(e.g. 70°F/20°C), but at 84°F/29°C, adult females live about 225 days.
Just an increase of 14°F/09°C can enhance the speed of its life cycle to complete quite quickly that a colder room temperature. Cockroaches do not like cold.
You may ask that isn’t living for long a better idea? For us humans, it’s yes. But insects try to reach adulthood and reproduce as fast as possible. So they envy a shorter lifespan.
Cockroaches infest homes mainly because it is warm inside. A temperature of about 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for them to survive, whereas a temperature below 15 degrees Fahrenheit will kill roaches.
Therefore, a home is an excellent choice for roaches to nest. Roaches will try to be in warmer spots like the kitchen, basement, near electronic appliances, etc. Cockroaches can hide in small cracks and crevices in these spots.
Supply of Food vs Roach Life Cycle
A cockroach’s life cycle is great depending on the supply of food. Roaches will grow extremely fast if there is plenty of food available.

Cockroaches will eat almost any household item that they can get hands-on. Including bakery products, hair, soap, paper, glue, or even leather! Yet, organic matter such as dead plants or animals remains its favorite.
Roaches sleep and rest in the daytime and hunt for food in the dark. Yes, cockroaches can see in darkness.
Water & Humidity vs Cockroach Life Extectancy
Along with food and a suitable temperature, cockroaches charm a surrounding with more dampness, dirt, and moisture, which is why they are primarily found around the sewers, leaking pipes, or drains. Cockroaches can not survive for long without water.
Interesting Read:
References:
1. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Blattella_germanica/
2. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Periplaneta_americana/
3. https://extension.psu.edu/oriental-cockroaches
4. https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/URBAN/roaches/brown-banded_cockroach.htm
5. https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/roaches/asian_cockroach.htm
6. https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/roaches/australian_cockroach.htm