The egg case (ootheca) is smaller that of the German cockroach and averages 38 eggs. A female can produce five to six ootheca during her lifetime, but in nature the average is more often two ootheca. Nymphs are difficult to identify, but generally, Asian cockroach nymphs are smaller than the German nymphs and are pale along the margins of the abdomen. Asian cockroaches require about 65 days to develop from the egg to the adult stage.

This species lives outdoors in lawns and leaf litter and readily flies to lit surfaces. At certain times of the year, thousands may be attracted to porches and windows. Some populations in Florida have been estimated at over 250,000 per acre in damp areas. Many times, homeowners have problems with this species after mulching flower beds in the spring. A native of Asia, the Asian cockroach was introduced into Florida in the early 1980s and has spread to infest areas as far north as South Carolina. This species has the potential to spread through much of the Americas.

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