I have a house next to the woods & have noticed that the amount of wood
roaches have increased significantly this year. Nothing has changed in our
environment - do you have any idea what might have caused this? I have a
heart-stopping fear of roaches of any kind so I would prefer to use a
pesticide to rid my house of them asap, but I have four dogs and I want
something that is safe for them as well. The majority of the time the
roaches stay on the deck, but with the recent increase in activity they are
coming into the house more frequently. Can you PLEASE reccomend a
pesticide or alternate soution to get rid of them and keep my dogs safe at
the same time?
Thank you for your help!
Wood Roach
The wood roach is often thought to be its cousin, the American roach. Wood cockroaches, which can grow up to one and one-quarter inches long, prefer to eat decaying organic matter and are attracted to light, whereas most roaches run from light. Females deposit their egg capsules outdoors under old logs, stumps and firewood. There is one generation of Wood cockroaches per year and, in some cases, the life cycle takes two years.
At dusk, Wood cockroach males may begin taking short flights and are drawn to porch or house lights. The Wood cockroach normal habitat is moist woodland areas but it frequently become a
household nuisance because it wanders into or is carried into the house with firewood.
Woods Roach
Wood roaches which are also called the Pennsylvania Woodroach, do not survive indoors which is probably the best news you have read so far. They require the consistently moist environment of their natural habitats such as under wood piles or loose bark and in decaying logs. So, unless your housekeeping is way below par, the presence of wood roaches is strictly a temporary annoyance. They usually die within a few days in the house, so a call to the exterminator is probably not required.
If Wood cockroaches are found anywhere inside the home, usually they are solitary. So, it’s not necessary to go looking for the mate. Wood cockroaches do not reproduce or multiply inside. Since wood cockroaches do not establish themselves indoors and their presence is temporary (a few weeks, at most) during the spring, chemical pest control measures are rarely needed.
Comments
Alicia
16 Jul 2008, 19:30
16 Jul 2008, 19:30
Ask The Exterminator
17 Jul 2008, 12:09
17 Jul 2008, 12:09
I cannot tell you why the increase in wood roaches. The bad news is that
the roaches live in the trees and there is no way to treat all the trees to
rid your property of these roaches. You can, however, make your house less
attractive by turning off outdoor house lights and closing curtains at
night to stop lamps from shining through windows. The wood roaches are
flying at the lights and keeping things darkened will help.
Kevin
05 Aug 2008, 02:00
05 Aug 2008, 02:00
I recently killed two insects which I suspect now may have been wood
roaches. I live in Queens, NY, and neither roach ran when I discovered
them. Both were between an inch and two long. One I found under an old VCR
I had put on my floor before throwing it away (and was allergic to the
bottom of my shoe), and the other was in the bathtub (and was very allergic
to being sprayed with Tilex). Both were found in the past week. Could these
still be wood roaches, and should I be concerned that this means there are
more roaches I haven't yet found? I live in a private house which has 3
apartments in it. I suspect one of them may have come in through a hole in
the bathroom window screen.
Ask The Exterminator
05 Aug 2008, 09:37
05 Aug 2008, 09:37
If they were, in fact, wood roaches, they are being attracted by lights.
Turn your outside lights off to see if that corrects the problem.
Wood roaches do not nest indoors, so you don't need to worry about suddenly finding hundreds of these insects. You should, however, fix the entry points to help discourage them.
Wood roaches do not nest indoors, so you don't need to worry about suddenly finding hundreds of these insects. You should, however, fix the entry points to help discourage them.
Nicole Jackson
08 Sep 2008, 12:50
08 Sep 2008, 12:50
Hello, I had an exterminator come out and before he came I had only seen
about 5-6 roaches for the entire month I saw that amount in one day after
he came do you know what could cause me to get more roaches after the
extermination?
Ask the Exterminator
08 Sep 2008, 13:46
08 Sep 2008, 13:46
Sounds like the pest control company did what they are supposed to do. They
found the roach hiding places and forced them out into the open.
Roaches do not usually make their presence known unless their populations have grown to the point that the weakest members are forced out into the open to seek food or other shelter. It does not surprise me that you are seeing more directly following a treatment.
Things should calm down after a few days. The roaches affected by the treatment will die. I recommend a couple of follow up treatments to get the newly hatching cockroaches.
Roaches do not usually make their presence known unless their populations have grown to the point that the weakest members are forced out into the open to seek food or other shelter. It does not surprise me that you are seeing more directly following a treatment.
Things should calm down after a few days. The roaches affected by the treatment will die. I recommend a couple of follow up treatments to get the newly hatching cockroaches.
Jennifer
09 Sep 2008, 16:45
09 Sep 2008, 16:45
Like so many on this page, I have a larger-than-life fear of roaches. I'm
living alone, and after seeing 4 in the past couple weeks, I'm constantly
sitting in my apartment in fear. The excitement of a new apartment has
gone out the window. I understand that Wood Roaches are a temporary "warm
weather" nuisance, but I'm terrified that since I live in an apartment,
they will stay all year.
My two questions are:
1. How do I know for sure these are wood roaches, and not American Cockroaches. The once I have seen are about 1.5 to 2 inches long, but I don't see any yellow markings like some people say Wood Roaches have.
2. Am I to expect these "roommates" throughout the year as cooler weather draws them indoors?
Thanks so much for your time.
My two questions are:
1. How do I know for sure these are wood roaches, and not American Cockroaches. The once I have seen are about 1.5 to 2 inches long, but I don't see any yellow markings like some people say Wood Roaches have.
2. Am I to expect these "roommates" throughout the year as cooler weather draws them indoors?
Thanks so much for your time.
Ask the Exterminator
09 Sep 2008, 16:54
09 Sep 2008, 16:54
Even though I've been in the pest control business for decades, I can tell
you I hate being surprised by one of these giants. So, there is no shame in
getting jumpy.
These are most likely not American roaches because Americans like very warm temperatures and lots of humidity. Boiler rooms and sewers come to mind. American roaches are usually a commercial facilities pest, but can, at times, find their way inside houses, as well.
Wood roaches act differently than other roaches. They are active during the day and night and don't usually run for cover when the lights are turned on. They do not survive inside because they need a moist environment as found in fallen logs or wood piles.
These are most likely not American roaches because Americans like very warm temperatures and lots of humidity. Boiler rooms and sewers come to mind. American roaches are usually a commercial facilities pest, but can, at times, find their way inside houses, as well.
Wood roaches act differently than other roaches. They are active during the day and night and don't usually run for cover when the lights are turned on. They do not survive inside because they need a moist environment as found in fallen logs or wood piles.
jodi
10 Sep 2008, 00:10
10 Sep 2008, 00:10
Hi,
I have been reading info on this web site. Very helpful and claming!! My question is, Does "bug bombs" that are set off in the house,like Raid, kill wood roaches? I just seen 2 in my basement and want them gone asap!!!
Thank You
I have been reading info on this web site. Very helpful and claming!! My question is, Does "bug bombs" that are set off in the house,like Raid, kill wood roaches? I just seen 2 in my basement and want them gone asap!!!
Thank You
Ask the Exterminator
10 Sep 2008, 08:12
10 Sep 2008, 08:12
Generally, "bug bombs" contain "pyrethrins" that kill insects if the insect
comes in contact with enough of the product. Sometimes, the roach is able
to scamper away after receiving just enough of a dose to flush him out of
hiding, but not kill him.
The wood roaches will die on their own. They don't reproduce inside. Wrong environment for them.
The wood roaches will die on their own. They don't reproduce inside. Wrong environment for them.