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Florida
Woods Cockroach
Characteristics –
Size: Among the largest in the United States, this cockroach may
measure greater than 2 inches in length.
Color: Very dark brown or black.
Adults are wingless.
Behavior –
Florida woods cockroaches are found in central to northern Florida and are
common around homes with wooded lots. They typically enter the attics or crawl
spaces of homes and, from there, move down into the living spaces. When
disturbed, these cockroaches give off a strong, disagreeable odor. While it
feeds on a wide variety of foods, the Florida woods cockroach prefers decaying
organic debris it finds outdoors.
Habitat – This species lives outdoors in tree holes, wood
piles, leaf litter, and heavy ground-covering vegetation, such as ivy. In homes,
it prefers to live in poorly ventilated attics and crawl spaces where the
humidity levels remain at a high, yet constant, level.
Tips for Control – The best strategies for dealing with the
Florida woods cockroach are exclusion and harborage reduction. Tips include:
 | Heavy vegetation such as ivy, monkey grass, and other ground covers,
should not be used in landscape beds next to the building.
| Firewood should be stored off the ground and as far from the house as
possible.
| Piles of lumber, bricks, etc. should be removed from the property.
| Cracks in exterior walls should be sealed.
| Tight-fitting screens should be in place over all attic and foundation |
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