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Spring is Here and So Are Roaches for East Lake   arrow

Spring is Here and So Are Roaches for East Lake

With the warm weather and blooming flowers of spring finally arriving, you’ve probably noticed a new unwelcome pest. Either in your yards, sheds, or homes. The Florida Wood cockroach is back and in a bad way this season. Spring is Here and So Are Roaches for East Lake

The Florida woods cockroach, Eurycotis floridana, is native to the southeastern United States. It is a peridomestic organism that will also live in structures near the home. Such as storage areas, greenhouses, or shelter boxes for other structures such as water pumps. It is also an occasional invader of the house. But, lacks effective flight wings and is slow moving. Its presence in the home is typically a result of being transported indoors on another item, such as firewood.

Eurycotis floridana has not been shown to commonly colonize inside structures, with limited instances of attic breeding. This species also shows no preferences for consuming waste or debris of urban consequence. As a result, the species tends to remain sylvan with overlap into peridomestic areas for protection from sunlight or foraging for food.

urycotis floridana occurs in a limited southeastern range in the United States. Records indicate presence in coastal Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and throughout most of Florida. With specific records in the counties of Alachua, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Levy, Highlands, Hillsborough. Also found in Polk, Putnam, Miami-Dade, and Monroe.

How big is that roach?

The adult is distinctively large in size, ranging from 30—40 mm (1.20—1.60 in) long and up to 24 mm (1.00 in) wide. The body varies in color from reddish brown to nearly black. This species also lacks developed wings in either sex. Instead they have reduced wing pads and absent hind wings. The wings form short leathery pads, referred to as tegmina. Which, barely meet on the midline of the body and do not extend to cover any portion of the abdomen.

While not commonly considered to be a pest, the Florida woods cockroach does sometimes enter human habitats in search of warmth. Inside homes, these insects can be found in bathrooms or basements and are particularly attracted to leaking pipes.

Florida woods cockroaches produce egg cases that contain an average of 20 to 24 eggs. However,  an infestation of this cockroach species is unlikely. It is best to take steps to prevent their entry to your home. Florida woods cockroaches can be brought inside on firewood or may enter on their own through open windows and doors. If Florida woods cockroaches invade your home, contact your local pest control expert to discuss pest control solutions or extermination options that are right for your home.