Departments of Plant Pathology and Entomology
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University

RESIDENCES,
STRUCTURES
AND
COMMUNITIES

North Carolina Pest News
Volume 11, Number 4, May 10, 1996
Stephen J. Toth, Jr. and Thomas A. Melton, editors

The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina
and may not apply in other areas.

From: Michael G. Waldvogel, Extension Entomologist

Wood Cockroaches

Wood cockroaches should start to become more active. We are approaching the time of the year when the males take flight (females do not fly). These roaches will be about 3/4 to 1 inch in size, and medium brown in color (not nearly as dark as smokybrown cockroaches). Unlike most cockroaches, the male wood cockroaches are attracted to lights, so they will be found gathering around porch lights or possibly on windows in the evening.

Spraying insecticides is fairly useless (and pointless) in managing wood cockroaches in this situation. A few stray males may find their way indoors; however, these can removed with the time-honored crush & flush method, using a newspaper, magazine or paper towel. Leaving the porch light off will also help. Wood cockroaches rarely cause problems indoors unless there is an extreme source of moisture and organic debris.

Web page last updated on 13 May 1996 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr..