Blog

Blog

Wood Roaches VS American Cockroaches

Wood cockroaches are a species of roach that is found throughout Virginia. This species typically prefers to remain outdoors. When they do occasionally wander indoors, they are often mistaken for an American cockroach due to their similar appearance. Eagle Pest Services would like to share more about the woods cockroaches and how to properly identify them and what you can do to help prevent them from wandering into your home.

 

Identification of Wood Roaches

Woods cockroaches share many similar features with the American cockroach, which is also found throughout the state of Virginia. Their body is oval shaped and they look flat. They have rather long antennae and have a chestnut, reddish brown coloring. They grow between ¾ to 1 ¼ of an inch in length which is slightly smaller than the American cockroach. The males often appear more tan in color, due to their wings. The nymphs are lighter as well. They will darken as they mature.

 

Wood Cockoach Lifecycle

Wood cockroaches main diet consists of decaying plants which is why they don't often come indoors. They can typically find plenty of food outdoors. However, they are drawn in by light which is the typical reason you will find wood cockroaches in or near your home. They become very active during spring and this is when encountering wood cockroaches is at its highest. As the temperatures begin to warm up, they will begin to come out of their winter refuge and begin to feed and mate. A female wood cockroach can produce up to 950 eggs in a single year, which is not too bad compared to some species. A full life cycle of a woods cockroach is about two years with an adult emerging between May through October.

 

Where Do Wood Cockroaches Live?

Most species of cockroaches will invade homes during poor weather conditions for survival. However, the wood cockroach is capable of surviving most conditions outside. They will hide under firewood, yard debris and under tree bark. The wood cockroach isn't typically a major pest problem for residential or commercial buildings. In most cases, if wood cockroaches are found inside, they will pass through and leave on their own. Usually the encounter is accidental as again, they are draw toward light. However no one wants any species or pest wandering inside their home. This is why it is important to prevent pests, including the Woods cockroach, from coming into your home.

 

Wood Cockroach Prevention

Homeowners can help prevent pests by first depriving them of shelter and food. The Woods cockroach likes to live in wood so avoid keeping fire wood piles too close to the home. It is recommended to store wood as far from the home as possible. Additionally, keep the yard well groomed and avoid yard debris from piling up. To help keep them out of your home, inspect your home's doors and windows and see if there are any gaps or spaces for pests, including the Woods cockroach, to crawl through. Use caulking glue to seal gaps or cracks on the outside of the home and around the edges of windows and door frames. You can also install a wire mesh material over dryer and attic vents and over chimneys to seal off these large access points. Cockroaches will become active during spring. Therefore, it is also recommended to use an insecticide around the outside and inside of the home to help kill any outside pest from entering inside your home.

 

Cockroach Control

If you need help identifying and controlling pests around your home, contact Eagle Pest Services. We can provide quality series and help protect your home and business from pests. Contact Eagle Pest Services today.