Wood cockroaches

What wood cockroaches look like

The wood cockroach most often seen here is the Pennsylvania wood cockroach. Adults are about 20 to 30 mm, flat and chestnut brown, with a pale, almost translucent stripe along the outer edge of the shield behind the head and the front edge of the wings. That pale edge is the easiest feature to look for. Males are slimmer, with long wings that reach past the body, and they fly. Females are broader with short wing pads and cannot fly, so they are rarely the ones found indoors. Young ones are dark brown with pale bands. At a glance they resemble an American cockroach, but they are smaller and duller, with no yellow figure eight behind the head.

Signs you have wood cockroaches

• Sightings in spring, mostly through May and June, then tailing off rather than building week after week.
• Roaches active in daylight, which is unusual, and often seen on walls, ceilings or window screens.
• Single males indoors, flying toward lights and windows, with no droppings or egg cases anywhere.
• Activity tied to firewood, appearing shortly after wood, bark mulch or garden waste has been brought inside.
• No build up over time, because they do not establish a population in the house.

Why wood cockroaches come indoors

Wood cockroaches live outdoors and stay outdoors. They shelter under loose bark, in woodpiles, hollow logs, stumps, leaf litter and damp garden debris, and they feed on decaying plant material rather than on the food in your kitchen. They come inside by accident in two ways. Males fly in spring, often in the evening, and are drawn to lit windows, porch lights and open doors. Others are carried in on firewood, bark mulch or garden furniture. Indoors they dry out quickly and die off within days. They do not normally breed inside, so a home with wood cockroaches usually has a wooded or heavily planted lot rather than a hygiene problem.

How to keep wood cockroaches out

• Store firewood outside and away from the walls, and bring in only what you will burn that day.
• Check bark mulch, garden furniture and plant pots before carrying them indoors.
• Repair window and door screens, and fit sweeps under exterior doors before spring.
• Reduce bright outdoor lighting near doors and windows during the spring flight period.
• Clear leaf litter, stumps and rotting wood from close to the house, and keep gutters clear.

How GO! Pest Control treats wood cockroaches

• Inspection. We confirm the species first, because the plan for a wandering outdoor roach is nothing like the plan for an indoor breeder.
• Treatment. We focus on the outside, treating entry points and the harbourage nearest the building rather than treating rooms unnecessarily.
• Follow-up. We check back through the spring flight period, which is when sightings peak.
• Advice. We show you which wood stacks, mulch beds and lighting habits are bringing them to the door.

We are licensed, insured and bonded, and we work in homes, apartments, condos and businesses across the Toronto GTA, Ottawa and Hamilton.

Common questions about wood cockroaches