Found this small, hard, brown pill-shaped object behind my kitchen cabinet. It has a weird ridge on the side and looks like a dried bean. What is this?

If the object is dark brown, oval-shaped, hard to the touch, and has a visible ridge or seam running along one side, there’s a strong chance it could be a cockroach egg case, also known as an ootheca.

What Is a Cockroach Egg Case?

An ootheca is a protective capsule that contains multiple cockroach eggs. Female cockroaches produce these cases to protect developing young until they hatch.

Common characteristics include:

• Brown or dark reddish color
• Pill or bean-like shape
• Hard outer shell
• Small ridge or zipper-like seam along one side
• Usually about ¼ to ½ inch long

Different cockroach species produce slightly different-looking egg cases, but many resemble a tiny dried bean or capsule.