Wood Cockroaches, Parcoblatta pennsylvanica, P. fulvescens, P. virginica¹

D. R. Suiter and P. G. Koehler²

APPEARANCE

The Wood cockroach is a light tan to chestnut-brown color with the thorax and wing pads edged in white. Adult males have well developed wings and fly quite well. The females have conspicuous wing-pads and look similar to oriental cockroaches. The male is 1 inch (25 mm) and female is inch (19 mm) in length. The two sexes differ so greatly in appearance that they once were described as two species.

HABITAT

Wood cockroaches are widely distributed in the eastern, southern, and midwestern states, up into Canada and are commonly found in hollow trees, under loose bark, and around wood piles and in crevices of rural buildings. Although not numerous, both female and male Wood cockroaches have been found indoors surviving under shingles. With the increased use of firewood, the popularity of cedar shake shingles, and the building of homes in wooded areas increased problems of seems inevitable.

BIOLOGY AND HABITS

The life cycle usually takes one year but may take as long as two years. The adults may remain alive for several months. The egg capsule is yellowish/brown and approximately two times longer than wide. The maximum number of eggs in a capsule is 32. An average of 26.1 nymphs hatch from each capsule. The capsules are deposited only during the summer, and the average incubation period is 34.2 days. The nymphs hatch in summer and mature the following May or June. Wood cockroaches survive the winter as a partially grown nymph under bark of trees. Nymphs even in subzero weather is quite active when exposed by pulling away bark. Adults are present from May until early October.

Wood cockroaches commonly invade houses surrounded by or near woods. The males are capable of long flights, while the females may migrate some distance by crawling. About dusk the cockroaches begin flying in short flights. This species is the one frequently encountered by motorists driving in the woods at dusk. Although most cockroaches are repelled by light, the males of this species are attracted to light, and it is this sex commonly encountered in the house at night.

CONTROL

Control for interior infestations are unusual because relatively few insects are found indoors. Perimeter treatments may be necessary to control outside infestations. Wood piles and debris around the structure should be inspected and treated or removed if infestations are found.

Footnotes

This document is ENY242, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1991. Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

D.R. Suiter, research assistant; Philip G. Koehler, professor, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.