Appearance: This roach is very similar to the American roach, but is smaller in size and is dark brown-mahogany, black in color. Adults have well-developed wings that stretch to the tip of the abdomen.
Diet: Normally they prefer plant material, but will eat almost anything when they come inside the home. They feed on plant material and may inhabit greenhouses.
Habits and Biology: The smoky brown is a tropical cockroach, thus more common in the southern United States. This species is occasionally shipped all over the U.S. on fruit or nursery stock.
They enter houses in the summer or hitchhike on firewood. Females lay a dark brown capsule that contains 24 eggs, hatching in one to two months. The young will become an adult in 10-12 months. This roach is not usually found in the Northern States unless they are brought in. However, in the Southern part of the country they are numerous. These roaches fly at night toward lights.
Recommendations:
- Caulk all penetrations through ground level walls.
- Stop water leaks, screen equipment overflow drains, and take overflow water away from buildings; keep drain traps full or capped.
- Remove rotting leaves from window wells.
- Move garbage cans out of preferred moist habitat.
- Ventilate moist spaces.