Wood roaches are not as invasive as the German roach and the American roach, but this doesn’t mean they won’t crawl into your home.
Wood cockroaches, sometimes also known as tree roaches, are generally not considered dangerous to humans, but their presence can be annoying because they tend to be noisy and sometimes leave behind a foul odor.
You can find these insects in dark, moist, and wooded areas where they can hide.
These roaches prefer warm temperatures, so they are often found in areas where the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). They also need oxygen and food, so places close to windows or vents may be more prone to infestation than other areas in your home.
If you suspect your home is infested with wood roaches, keep reading this guide to learn how to get rid of wood roaches.
What Attracts Wood Roaches to Your Home?
Warmth, moisture, food, and rotting matter attract wood roaches to your home.
These pests thrive in damp areas such as basements and crawl spaces. However, you can also find them in walls, pipes, and even inside cracks in furniture.
Read More: What To Do If You See Roaches In Your Basement
The most common places for a wood cockroach to live are bathrooms and kitchens because these areas tend to be warm and moist.
You may not even know they are there until you see the damage they cause. It’s important to note that the wood cockroach can survive inside buildings for up to 3 days without eating or drinking.
How to Identify Wood Roaches
You may mistake wood cockroaches for other common household pests confused with roaches, such as crickets and spiders. However, there are several ways to tell the difference between these insects. The most obvious way to identify a wood cockroach is by size: adult wood roaches are about 3/4 to 1 inch long, making them one of the largest cockroaches in North America.
Wood roaches have tan bodies with dark brown markings on their wings and legs. They have wings but rarely fly, and their wings resemble hard covers over their bodies.
These pests have an oval body, large dark eyes, and a pair of spiky hairs (called pronotum setae) on their thoraxes.
Another way to tell if you have a wood roach problem is by the appearance and behavior. Adult wood roaches have flat, shield-like bodies with long antennae that extend beyond their heads. They also have large compound eyes and wings covering most of their bodies when resting.
Wood cockroaches are nocturnal and prefer humid environments, and they like to hide under rotting logs or other debris during the day. They eat decaying matter near dead trees, stumps, or decaying logs on the forest floor. They also feed on dead insects and other roaches.
Are Wood Roaches Similar to Home Cockroaches?
Yes, wood roaches are similar to home cockroaches in a few ways. They both come from the same family of bugs and have identical appearances. However, wood roaches are typically found in trees and tree branches and do not usually reside inside homes like other cockroach species. Both pests can, however, make your home feel dirty and uncomfortable.
You can find wood roaches throughout the southeastern United States, including Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
However, wood roaches differ from other roaches in that they don’t live in human homes; they live in forests or woods. Therefore, they don’t eat human food and aren’t attracted to porch lights or food smells. However, they like warm weather and will come out at night when it’s warm enough to survive comfortably outside.
While wood cockroaches live outdoors, they can occasionally find their way inside your home when there’s a hole in the wall or roof. You can also carry them on firewood, lumber, mulch, and even potted plants into your home. Because of this, it’s essential to know how to get rid of them to prevent wood roach infestations.
Read More: Cockroaches Outside My House At Night: How to Get Rid of Them
How to Get Rid of Wood Roaches
Usually, a wood roach will enter your home due to poor sanitation practices, such as failure to clean up spills promptly or failure to change garbage bags regularly. Infestation also occurs when there is moisture buildup in your home due to plumbing leaks or clogged drains.
Female wood roaches can be difficult to detect in the early stages of an infestation, mainly because they are nocturnal, which makes them harder to spot. However, you may need to take action if you see small brown spots on your walls or cabinets that look like coffee grounds and emit a musty odor when touched.
Here is what you can do to control wood roaches:
Set Traps
You can use glue or sticky traps to catch a Pennsylvania wood roach. The best time to set traps is when you find one or two cockroaches in your home. Once you have caught one, inspect the area where you found it for more signs of infestation. If there are none, put the traps back where they belong and wait for another sign of their presence.
Perform a Barrier Treatment
To get rid of male wood roaches, you can try a barrier treatment. This involves applying pest control products around the perimeter of your home where it meets the ground and cracks or crevices in exterior walls.
You will also need to administer treatment in any pipes that go into your home and seal off any other entry points around your property. For example, make sure there are no holes in garden hoses or sprinkler heads that could allow cockroaches to enter your house.
Clear the Clutter Around Your Compound
Male wood roaches thrive in dark, damp, and filthy places. So make sure you keep your yard as clean as possible by removing any wood piles and leaf litter that could provide roaches with a place to hide. You can also try using insecticides to spray these areas. If you have pets, clean up after them and ensure they do not leave waste on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Keeps Wood Roaches Away?
Sealing all cracks and crevices in your home keeps wood roaches away. Ensure all doors and windows are shut tight and use caulk or weather stripping around any openings in the walls or ceiling. This will prevent the outdoor roaches from entering your home in the first place.
Another way to prevent these cockroaches from living in your home is to reduce the amount of moisture. Moisture is a critical component of their habitat, so keeping things dry will make it more difficult for them to thrive.
Why Am I Finding Wood Roaches in My Home?
You may be finding wood roaches in your home due to carrying wood into your house. Wood roaches are notorious for hiding in decaying logs, and firewood is a prime place for them to do so.
If you bring home a bundle of firewood, store it outside until you’re ready to use it. You can also seal any gaps or cracks around your doors and windows, which will help prevent wood roaches from getting inside.
However, if you see a wood roach in your home, it’s crucial to take action immediately by removing any leaf litter to prevent an infestation.
Can Wood Roaches Infest My Home?
Yes, wood roaches can infest your home. However, this is most common with homes in the woods since this is where wood roaches are most likely to be found. Therefore, if you live in a neighborhood with rotting trees and other vegetation, it’s essential to watch out for them.
Remember, wood roaches can nest in firewood and other lumber found around homes.
How Can You Get Rid of Wood Roaches in Your House?
You can get rid of wood roaches in your house by identifying where they’re coming from to stop them from returning. Your next step should be to set traps and roach baits around the house. This works well because traps attract the roaches, which makes it easier for you to catch them once they’re caught. You can also use insecticides or sprays to kill wood roaches and other bugs that might be hiding around your house.
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