Wood Cockroach

The wood cockroach is a species that lives mainly in damp woodland and outdoor areas, so it is less likely than other species to settle inside your home. Unlike most cockroaches, however, it can be active both day and night, especially in warm weather. Here is what you need to know about how to recognize it, what it eats and how to keep it out of your home.

What Does a Wood Cockroach Look Like?

Wood cockroaches measure about 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches (19–32 mm) long. They are chestnut brown, with a flat, oval body and spiny legs, and they are often confused with German, American or smoky brown cockroaches. Males have full wings that extend beyond the body, while females have very short wings.

Both males and females have a pale, cream-colored band along the outer edge of the thorax, which also extends along the edges of the wings. Unlike most cockroaches, wood cockroaches are not sensitive to light, so you may see them during the day as well as at night.

Wood Cockroach Life Cycle

Females produce egg capsules (oothecae) that each contain up to about 32 eggs. The egg stage lasts around 34 days in warm conditions, while the nymph stage usually lasts 10 to 12 months and can take up to two years. Adult females typically live for several months.

• Eggs: A female can produce around 29 egg capsules in her lifetime. Wood cockroaches rarely breed indoors.
• Nymphs: Larger nymphs can be recognized by the pale or translucent band along the edge of the thorax. Identifying very young nymphs usually requires a closer, magnified inspection.

Where Do Wood Cockroaches Live?

Wood cockroaches live outdoors, usually in decaying wood, under loose bark, in fallen logs and in woodpiles. They prefer humid areas and do not adapt well to dry indoor conditions, so they rarely survive long inside homes.

Males are attracted to bright lights in the evening, which is how they most often get inside, through windows, doors or other openings. They may also be carried in with firewood. Activity usually peaks in late spring and early summer, during the mating season.

What Do Wood Cockroaches Eat?

Wood cockroaches feed mainly on decaying organic matter, such as fallen leaves, dead plant material and rotting wood. Finding one in your home does not mean the home is unclean; it is usually drawn in by outdoor lighting.

Are Wood Cockroaches Harmful?

Wood cockroaches do not damage the structure of your home and do not usually survive indoors for more than a couple of weeks. Like other cockroaches, however, they can contaminate surfaces with droppings and saliva, and their shed skins can trigger asthma and allergies in sensitive people, including children and the elderly.

How to Get Rid of Wood Cockroaches

• Maintain your yard: Keep outdoor areas clear of rotting leaves, branches and plant debris.
• Store firewood properly: Keep woodpiles away from the house and raised off the ground, and inspect wood before bringing it inside.
• Seal entry points: Close gaps around doors, windows and utility openings, and keep screens in good repair.
• Remove individual roaches: Use a vacuum cleaner or a brush and dustpan and dispose of them outside.
• Reduce outdoor lighting: Switch off unnecessary lights at night or use bulbs that attract fewer insects.

If you are dealing with an infestation, Safeguard’s cockroach control experts can identify the species, locate where they are hiding and eliminate them safely and effectively.