It is a kind of cockroach that can be found in the United States. They are known as the Pennsylvania wood cockroach.
These cockroaches are brown in color and have wings, but only males can fly, they prefer to live in damp environments, such as near water sources or on rotten logs.
In this wikipest.com entry, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about this type of cockroach: how to identify them, their habitat, how to get rid of them and prevention tips. Stay safe and keep your home pest free!
What are wood cockroaches and where do they come from?
Wood cockroaches are a type of cockroach commonly found in North America. They are also known as water bugs or palmetto bugs.
They are attracted to damp, dark areas, which is why they are often found in basements, crawl spaces, and kitchens.
This elusive insect usually enter houses through cracks and crevices of windows. It is not known whether wood cockroaches transmit disease., but they can be a nuisance and you have to be careful. They are dark brown or black in color and have wings, although, as we said, females cannot fly.
How to identify a wooden cockroach?
The best way to identify a wood cockroach is by its brown color and wings.. These cockroaches are dark brown in color but their wings are lighter in color.
They also have two stripes on their back that run from head to tail, measuring between 13 and 16 mm in length, which equals half an inch.
These cockroaches are often mistaken for termites because of their similar appearance. However, there are some key differences between the two insects.
For example, wood cockroaches have longer antennae than termites and they also have a shorter body, another difference is that these cockroaches can fly, while termites cannot.
Habits of Wood Cockroaches
They are nocturnal cockroaches, they usually come out at night to fulfill their mission of feeding. They are usually attracted to light, but not during the day, so you won’t see them during the day.
They prefer dark, warm and humid environments., so you’ll find them in basements or attics. Don’t be alarmed if you see them climbing, they are great climbers and can infiltrate anywhere.
What does the wood cockroach eat?
It feeds on various things, such as wood, leaves and other plant materials. They are especially fond of decaying wood, which is why they are often found in homes with structural damage or water leaks. They also eat insects and other small animals.
Where do they live and where does the wood roach come from?
They are most common in the southern and eastern United States, but can be found as far north as Canada. They usually live outdoors, but they can enter houses and other buildings in search of food or shelter.
Wood cockroach pests are attracted to damp areas such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
What damage can wood cockroaches do?
Although they don’t usually bite people, they can cause damage to your home or business. They are known to eat wood, which can cause structural damage to your home or business if not removed effectively.
Separate, can spread disease-causing bacteria and other parasites harmful substances in food and on surfaces in your home.
Wood cockroach droppings
Wood cockroach droppings are cylindrical in shape. and they are the size of a pencil eraser. They are usually brown to black in color, but may be lighter in color if the roach haven’t eaten recently.
The droppings of these cockroaches may also contain small pieces of undigested wood. Although most people think that they are not bad, the reality is that they are harmful to health, they infect everything around them.
How to get rid of wood cockroaches?
The best way to get rid of wood cockroaches is to use a combination of baits, traps and insecticides. You can also try some natural methods like using boric acid or diatomaceous earth.
If your home is infected with this type of cockroach, it’s important to act quickly. it is pests breed quickly and they can be difficult to control once they break into your home.
They are also known to carry disease, so it is critical delete them ASAP.
Tips to avoid wood cockroach infestations
There are some things you can do to prevent wood cockroach infestations:
- Be more tidy in your home or officeas they like to hide in dark, narrow spaces.
- Keep food well stored and Quickly cleans up leftover foodsince cockroaches are attracted to food sources.
- Fix or cover cracks and crevices around your doors and windows to help keep roaches away.
- Consider the possibility of use roach traps or baits to help control populations.
How does the wood cockroach reproduce?
Before knowing how cockroaches reproduce, the first thing to know is three distinct stages of development: Oothecae (when they are in the oothecae), nymphs (when the cockroach is still immature) and adults (ready to reproduce).
The ootheca of this type of cockroach can hold up to 32 roach eggs (almost twice as much as transparent cockroaches). The eggs take about a month to hatch and females are capable of producing nearly a thousand eggs in a lifetime.
When they are nymphs they cannot reproduce. this phase lasts 10 to 12 months. By going through this stage and becoming an adult, the Pennsylvania wood cockroach lasts a few months and usually mates from late spring to early summer.