Have you ever heard of a Pennsylvania wood cockroach, otherwise known as a wood roach? As their name indicates, they are typically found in wood, like under woodpiles, or in hollow trees and tree stumps. They are also extremely attracted to outside lighting, and will usually find their way into a home through a crack or space where light is shining through, typically windows and doors. They can also be brought indoors accidentally on firewood or other outside items.
Wood roaches are a dark chestnut brown in color with a whitish-yellow outline on their thorax and front part of their wings. The males can be up to 1 1/8" long with fully developed wings so that they can fly. However, the females only about 1/2" to 3/4” in length and cannot fly since their wings are underdeveloped. They eat a variety of decaying organic matter and other foods, but mostly prefer sweet or starchy foods.
The problem with wood roaches is that when they get inside a home they like to be active all day and night. They do not startle easily and will not run and hide when people are around. They will just wonder about randomly and are not very social with one another, they also do not reproduce inside homes. They really need their natural habitat outdoors in order to survive. They are not harmful to homes, furnishings or people, they are however an unsightly nuisance that can cause people to become uneasy. Not too many are comfortable having these wood roaches running around all over their house.
Here are a few do-it-yourself prevention and control tips for wood roaches:
Seal crevices and gaps in your foundation and walls including window and door frames
Inspect firewood and other outdoor items that you are going to bring indoors
Change out white outdoor bulbs with yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs
Most importantly, enlist the help of professional pest eliminators
If you have an infestation of Pennsylvania wood cockroaches in your home, you can contact us at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators in Central and North Central Illinois including LaSalle, McLean, and Will counties, as well as Southwest Iowa including Scott County. We have been eliminating pests for over 85 years, and we can offer you assistance in ridding your home of wood roaches and other pests that you need to have eliminated. Contact us at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators today!