A wood roach is a type of cockroach that is commonly found in eastern and central North America. The most common species of wood roach found across Canada is the Pennsylvania wood cockroach. Here are some key facts about wood roaches:

• Identification: Wood roaches are light yellowish-brown in color and measure about 12-30 mm in length. They have pale coloration along the wing margin and are oval in shape. Both sexes have wings, but only the male is a strong flyer.

• Habitat and Diet: Wood roaches prefer dead plant material but will feed on virtually anything. They are often found underneath organic material in nature, such as leaf litter, underneath loose bark on trees, inside rotting logs, or under branches or tree fronds. They are not attracted to leftover food or clutter and do not live on garbage or human waste.

• Behavior: Wood roaches are not as light sensitive as other roaches and are less likely to flee for cover when a light is turned on at night. They are more than happy to roam around in plain sight and are not going to stay in hiding. They are only accidental home invaders and much prefer to be outside.

• Reproduction: Female Pennsylvania wood cockroaches produce about 29 egg cases, with each case containing around 32 eggs. Development time from egg to adult is about 10 months. Wood roaches cannot mate in your house and constantly need moist natural habitats like wood piles or rotting logs. They can be a temporary nuisance as they live for only a few days if they don’t get enough moisture.

• Control: Wood roaches are not considered pests and are harmless. They won’t harm you, your house, or your furnishings. They can’t survive indoors for long, especially in places with low humidity. Buildings with cedar shake shingles in wooded areas sometimes have issues with wood roaches living under the shingles as these mimic their preferred habitat. In this case, replacing the roof with a different material or trimming or removing trees to increase sunlight and encouraging warm, dry conditions on the roof may be the only solution.