Are Wood Cockroaches Dangerous?

Are insects invading your home and property in New Jersey? How about wood roaches? What are wood roaches? Those pesky cockroaches that like to congregate in rotted logs and beneath the bark of trees, they are none other than the Pennsylvania wood roach. They love wood and will invade any space that has it. They also are drawn toward light and will slip in any crack or crevice to get into your home, which contains a lot of wood that they will delight in and eventually ruin. Once they have made themselves at home in your humble abode, they will be looking for food, mainly starches, sweets, and organic matter. You may be surprised to know that cockroaches do not congregate in one area at the same time, even though they can invade your home in large numbers.

You will know a Pennsylvania wood roach by its deep, dark chestnut brown color. They have an off-white outline on the front of their wings and thorax. Female wood roaches do not fly as their wings are underdeveloped. The females are smaller in size, up to 3/4 of an inch long, and the males up to 1 1/8 inches long.

Now, back to the question of whether or not wood roaches are dangerous because not all roach species are the same. Different species are attracted to various locations like pipes and sewers, but the wood roaches do not find those locations desirable. They would rather live outdoors in decayed wood, which makes them slightly less dangerous than the ones traipsing around in pipes and sewerage. Wood roaches are less likely to contaminate food sources with the dangerous pathogens that other roach species do, but they should be dealt with before an all out infestation begins. They are a nuisance and still could pick up contaminates and spread them about wherever they go.

Take these precautions to prevent wood roaches or insects of any kind from entering your home:

• Take a look at any firewood or outdoor items you bring inside your home, be sure wood roaches are not hiding within.
• Store your firewood on pallets or risers so that the wood is not directly on the ground - and keep it stacked a distance away from your home.
• Replace outdoor lighting with bulbs that are less appealing to roaches, like yellow or sodium vapor lights.
• Make sure that you store food in airtight containers made of glass or plastic so that roaches can’t get into them.
• You should fill in any gaps, cracks, crevices and holes along your foundation that roaches can get in, to discourage them from gaining access to your home.
• Lastly, you will need a pest control service to eliminate a roach infestation and to keep them away.

It is very important when you first discover roaches in your New Jersey home that you contact the professionals at Arrow Pest Control right away. You will want professionals that are well trained and have the specific knowledge and products for eradicating all Pennsylvania wood roaches - adults, eggs, and nymphs - from your home. Arrow Pest Control eliminates all of them and our goal is to free your home from being invaded by any insects that are dangerous, damaging, or simply a nuisance with results that will last. We will tailor a service to fit your specific needs. Give us a call today to discuss how Arrow Pest Control can help you keep your New Jersey home free from pests like the Pennsylvania wood roach.