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.
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. The smoky brown is a tropical roach, 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.