How can you tell the difference between American cockroaches and Pennsylvania wood roaches? The primary way is that the American cockroach species is much bigger than the wood roaches.
The adult males measure two inches in length and are a reddish-dark brown color. The oriental wood cockroach is darker brown, almost black; the females are wingless cockroaches. In comparison, males have short wings like female wood roaches.
The species of cockroaches that infest most homes come from Blattidae, which includes: German cockroaches, American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, Brown-banded cockroaches, and Wood roaches come from the family Ectobiidae.
American Cockroach vs. Wood Roach: Identification
The adult American roaches are reddish-brown with yellow or pale brown bands encircling the pronotum's outer edge. Because the wings extend four to eight millimeters from the abdomen's tip, the male is longer than the female. The male and female tip has a pair of jointed, slender cerci.
The wood roach is recognized by its pale, creamy white or transparent stripe on the thorax's outside edge.
For the most part, although troublesome, the wood roaches are basically harmless. They cause no harm to your home, belongings, or yourself.
They cannot survive for long periods indoors, particularly if there is not much humidity. During mating season, the adult male wood roaches are an annoyance as they fly around in great numbers.
American Cockroach vs. Wood Roach: Differences Between Them And Other Cockroaches
The wood cockroach is chestnut brown with a flat, oval-shaped body, long antennae, and spiny legs. They are sometimes called “accidental invaders,” wood cockroaches live outside but wander indoors or get carried into a home. They are often confused with the German, American, or Smoky Brown wood cockroaches.
Wood roaches only eat wood and plant matter. They avoid eating human waste or living near waste materials; they are incapable of spreading unwanted bacteria or diseases like other cockroach species.
The American and German roaches are the two most prolific species of home invaders. Most commonly found in homes, the American cockroaches multiply quickly over a few weeks.
The nymphs grow and emerge from the ootheca (an egg case of about 15 embryos) within 24-38 days. German cockroaches are notorious for their ability to reproduce rapidly.
The German cockroach is one of the world's most common and prominent. These insects are commonly associated with restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, nursing homes, apartment buildings, and residential homes.
Keeping Them Outside
Suppose you have noticed a cockroach infestation outdoors, your going to want to keep them there. Male roaches are attracted to outdoor lighting; therefore, limit the usage of a porch light at night.
During the latter part of May through July, male wood roaches fly about, searching for a mate. Try to abstain from using outdoor lighting during this time period if possible.
In addition, avoid indoor and outdoor lighting treatments surrounding the doors and windows or along exterior walls and other areas.
Ensure all crevices and cracks along exterior walls and the foundation are properly sealed to prevent the entrance of wood roaches.
Are Pennsylvania Wood Roaches Pests?
You might be wondering if wood roaches are like other cockroaches. The wood roaches prefer living outside and are not like the specie of cockroach inside house.
The most common roaches in a home are the American and German roaches, which breed indoors, while wood roaches live outdoors.
Sometimes wood roaches are called an accidental invaders. Although they prefer life outside, they occasionally wander in or get carried inside of homes. They are often confused with German, American, or Smoky Brown cockroaches.
In addition, to their natural habitat, wood roaches are smaller than many other roach species common in America.
The Parcobiatta Spp., or Pennsylvania wood cockroach, looks like any other roach. However, there are some differences in their appearance. For example, wood roaches are a light brown or beige coloring and are slightly smaller than average.
While nymphs are entirely medium brown and lack wings, adults have more color variation. Males are light amber brown, and females are darker brown with yellow bands on their pronota (the shield-like structures that protect the back of their heads).
In addition to their heads, thorax, and abdomens, Pennsylvania wood cockroaches also have six legs and two antennae. Like all cockroaches, their antennae are one of their most distinguishing features, which are filiform.
Where Exactly Do Wood Roaches Live?
Similar to other cockroach species, the wood cockroach prefers damp environments. They are often discovered beneath organic debris, such as leaf litter and loose bark. Also found in decaying logs or within the crevices of fallen or dead trees.
Although chronically humid conditions may create a more welcoming environment. Issues like wood rot and mold growth can provide an open invitation to infest homes. Therefore, you may encounter wood roaches inside more often.
They Come via your firewood
Wood roaches prefer to live in outdoor areas with lots of moisture. These areas include the inside of decaying organic matter, wood piles, and other dead wood. They also live under loose tree bark, branches, or in and around logs.
Male wood cockroaches look tan in color because of their wings. They are between three-quarters to one and one-quarter inches in length. The females have no wings, and rarely will you be encountered by one.
The Pennsylvania wood roach doesn't infest the inside of a home like other roaches. They are mostly considered pests of the outside; however, you may encounter them indoors, but rarely.
They often get indoors by hitching a free ride in via a bundle of firewood you bring into your home!
What Do Cockroaches Eat?
Cockroaches eat decaying wood and organic matter. Roaches then lay eggs near their ideal food sources, like leaf litter and rotting trees.
It is unlikely your home provides any of the necessities for wood roach survival.
Are Wood Roaches Bad?
They rarely enter human habitats and don't pose negative impacts on the environment or human health.
A Wood cockroach is similar in appearance to the American roach, making it difficult to tell the difference between them. Both have a flat, oval-shaped body, long antennae, and spiny legs and are a chestnut brown color.
However, wood cockroaches are a bit smaller, about 3/4 to 1 1/4 of an inch long. Their small size may be the only way to tell the difference.
In Conclusion – American Cockroach vs. Wood Roach
Wood roaches, unlike other cockroaches, exhibit a distinct characteristic of being less sensitive to light. When exposed to sudden light at night, they are less inclined to scurry away—allowing them to infest light sockets and remain in plain sight even as you flick the switch on!
Wood roaches are not the same as other cockroaches in your home. While most cockroaches in the home include German and American cockroaches, wood roaches generally stay in outdoor habitats. The females deposit their eggs in optimally moist environments that are most conducive to survival.
The wood roach prefers decaying plant matter, fallen logs, loose bark of a dead tree, and decomposing leaves.
When It Comes To Pests, Control Simply Won't Cut It
The pesticides that control household roaches aren't as effective against this type of pest. One way how to get rid of American cockroaches that have wandered inside your home, pick them up with a vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan and discard them.
Your best approach is to take steps to keep wood cockroaches and other species of cockroaches out of your house:
- Don't bring firewood inside until you're ready to burn it.
- Keep wood piles away from your house and off the ground.
- Seal cracks and small openings so they can't slip inside
Contact the Experts in Pest Control To Get Rid of Pests
If you have an infestation of cockroaches, contact A.N.T. Pest Control, simply the best pest control in New Lenox, to get rid of roaches. Contact us today by calling 815-512-7211 to request a free estimate for our pest control services.
