Pennsylvania Wood Cockroaches

What do Pennsylvania wood roaches look like?

Pennsylvania wood roaches are a deep dark chestnut brown color; their thorax and front portion of their wings are outlined in a whitish-yellow color. Male are larger than the females; males grow to between 7/8th and 1 1/8th of an inch in length; females grow to between ½ and ¾ of an inch in length. 

Males have fully developed wings and can fly, females have underdeveloped wings and are not capable of flight.

Are Pennsylvania wood roaches dangerous?

Pennsylvania wood roaches are not as dangerous as other species of roaches; they live outside in wooded areas underneath tree bark or rotting logs and they cannot breed indoors. They also don’t spend time in undesirable locations like in sewers and pipes like other species.

Care should still be taken with this species; they can contaminate food sources and should be eliminated from a home as quickly as possible.

Why do I have a Pennsylvania wood roach problem?

Pennsylvania wood roaches happily live outside in wooded areas behind tree bark, inside of hollow trees and stumps, and under rotting logs. They will also congregate on woodpiles, behind wooden shingles and on gutters, Pennsylvania wood roaches are attracted to outdoor lighting and may make their way inside your home through spaces found around windows and doors.

This species is also brought inside of homes accidentally on pieces of firewood. Once inside, Pennsylvania wood roaches wander around your home foraging for food (organic matter, sweets, and starches), but do not usually gather together in large numbers in one area.

Can I control Pennsylvania wood roaches?

Pennsylvania wood roaches may enter in large numbers and invade multiple areas of your home; the best defense against these nuisance pests is to contact a professional pest control expert at the first signs of their presence in your home. The pest control professionals at Arrow Pest Control have the training, knowledge and products needed to quickly find and eliminate all Pennsylvania wood roach adults, eggs, and nymphs that are located in your home through our residential service options.

If Pennsylvania wood roaches have decided to invade your New Jersey home, contact Arrow Pest Control today learn more about our cockroach control solutions!

How do I make my property less attractive to Pennsylvania wood roaches?

There are several steps that you can take to help prevent Pennsylvania wood roaches from making their way inside of your New Jersey home.

• Caulk gaps found around and underneath of doors and windows; install door sweeps under all exterior doors.
• Inspect firewood before bringing it inside of your home.
• Store firewood piles up off of the ground and away from the exterior of your home.
• Replace white exterior light bulbs with yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs- insects don’t find these as attractive as the white light bulbs.
• Store food in glass or plastic containers with tight fitting lids or the refrigerator.