Cockroach

Question: Hi, I have twice tried to send this to the regular UVM extension service but the form won’t send.

For just under a week I have been noticing medium size, tan-colored insects showing up around 5-6 pm or so, on my window screens and clapboard siding on the south and east side of my house.  I am also finding them hidden in my garage when I move something and in between my screens and closed windows.
About 10 have gotten inside. I have found a couple on my kitchen counter in the early morning, one hiding under the bathroom sink strainer.
These bugs have very evasive behavior when spotted, scurrying into a crack or under the edge of a warped clapboard.
The look very much like “German” cockroaches in size and color. (Sorry, terrible name.)
I posted a photo of one I had killed (crushed) on INaturalist. Their AI couldn’t definitively identify but came up with two cockroach species 
We have lived in this house for 30 years.  I like and look at bugs and I have never once seen this type.
Linda

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 22, 2023, 11:28 AM EDT
response: Hi Linda,  Thank you for contacting the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline. To answer your question, I spoke with an entomologist who said this is definitely a roach, but it may be a wood roach,  not a cockroach. If you want to submit a sample to positively identify this roach, please contact Ann Hazelrigg at <personal data hidden>  It wouldn’t be unusual to find a wood roach in the garage, especially if the structure is located in a wooded area or if you  store firewood in the garage.  Here are a few websites that might help you identify the roach:  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/wood-cockroach  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/ENTO/ENTO-426/ENTO-426.html  https://extension.psu.edu/wood-cockroaches One simple distinction between cockroaches and wood roaches is that wood roaches move more slowly and don't skitter away to avoid humans. If you only find one or two of these insects, it is likely they are wood roaches. The easiest way to manage them is through exclusion, which means to seal off entrances to your home or garage.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 22, 2023, 12:33 PM EDT
response: ﻿
Hi Lisa, (and Ann)
Thank you for your quick response.
The below quote from your response is what has me worried.
“They skitter .”
As soon as the direct sun is off our siding (about 5 to 6 pm) about 4 or 5 will begin to appear.  As I approach one it will immediately dart ﻿to find a gap in the clapboard. If it can’t find a place to hide (or I try to swat it) it will usually drop to the ground and be lost to me .
I have probably seen 50 or 60 in the last week, on siding, on screens, and in between the screen and window glass.  About 10 have made it into the house, found either high on a wall, three on the kitchen counter and one hiding under the  ill-fitting strainer in the bathroom sink.
The first cockroach was on the kitchen counter. I caught it and put it out the back door.  I noticed it hung around the door threshold all day. (It wasn’t injured.) That behavior made me wonder.
Inaturalist’s AI suggested it was either a tawny or dusky cockroach.  (Admittedly the picture wasn’t very good.)
In my opinion, they are definitely trying to get in the house and they definitely are very evasive when spotted.
Appearance-wise, they could be male wood cockroaches, but the behavior seems quite different than one would expect with wood cockroaches.
Linda

> On Jun 22, 2023, at 11:28 AM, Extension Foundation <ask> wrote:
> One simple distinction between cockroaches and wood roaches is that wood roaches move more slowly and don't skitter away to avoid humans.</ask>

responder: Happy Gardening!  Replied June 22, 2023, 4:33 PM EDT
response: Hello Linda, I'm following up on your cockroach question. From the photo you shared, I agree that it looks like a dusky cockroach which is a type of wood roach -- here are some additional resources that might help with identification:https://bugguide.net/node/view/26906https://extension.umaine.edu/home-and-garden-ipm/fact-sheets/common-name-listing/cockroaches/https://extension.psu.edu/wood-cockroaches If you'd like, you can send us a specimen and we will work with our Extension entomologist to make a positive ID. If you care to do that, please complete this form: https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Extension-Community-Horticulture/PDC_Specimen_Worksheet_fillable_form.pdf and send it to the lab (mailing address is included on the form). In the meantime, if they are wood roaches (including dusky cockroach), you can try to reduce their breeding spots by removing any decayed and fallen logs close to the building and continue to physically remove them from your home.  It is said that the males are particularly pesky around this time of year (May-June) as this is their mating season and so they tend to fly and travel in large numbers. Since they feed primarily on decaying organic material, again removing wood and leaf piles, and other areas where plant material accumulates and decays is a good idea. Like other insects, they may be attracted by outdoor lights so it is suggested that residual insecticide sprays around doors, windows, porches, patios and other areas near outdoor lights will help control males. I'm hoping this will be a short-lived problem for you! If you do choose to use an exterminator/pest control service, here is an excellent checklist for choosing a reputable business: http://www.npic.orst.edu/pest/selectpco.html.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 22, 2023, 8:10 PM EDT
response: Hi Deb, I appreciate everyone’s efforts in identifying, the suggestions and the links.I had started to wonder if it is some kind of a mating, swarming thing, since if they are wood cockroaches they look like they are the males.We don’t have outside lights, nor mulch near the house,  but I do have extensive vegetable/fruit plantings in the yard, mulched with compost.I killed a half dozen on the siding the last couple of hours.  Unfortunately I don’t seem to be able to catch them, only kill them.Attached is a better quality photo.Thanks, everyone .LindaSent from my iPad On Jun 22, 2023, at 4:33 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Happy Gardening!  Replied June 26, 2023, 10:03 AM EDT
response: Hello Linda, We have no new news based on the additional photo you sent. Fortunately, wood roaches (which we still think they are based on the size) don't cause human harm and you could take a look at some of the resources we sent to try to exclude them from the house. We think that once the mating season has concluded, they will go away.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 27, 2023, 12:20 PM EDT
response: A big thanks go to Deb, Judy, Lisa and Ann for “customer service” unlike anywhere else!Li daSent from my iPad On Jun 26, 2023, at 10:03 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿