The female smokybrown cockroach produces approximately ten egg capsules each of which contains about 20 eggs during her lifetime. Adult females live an average of 218 days and males about 215 days.
Smokybrown cockroaches are typically outdoor pests commonly found in southern states as far west as central Texas. They can be found in wood piles, flower planters, palm trees, water oaks, and vacant buildings. Indoors they seek warm, humid areas without air circulation, such as garages, attics, and crawlspaces.
These cockroaches have also been found established in northern states, usually in greenhouses. They are strong fliers and are attracted to lights.
Smokybrown cockroaches are 1 to 1-1/4 inches long when mature, uniformly dark brown-to-mahogany, and characterized by fully developed wings that completely cover their abdomens. The pronotum (i.e., shield like area behind the head) is black. Nymphs are red brown; the younger ones have white markings on their backs and the first four or five segments of their antennae are white at the tip. The purse-shaped egg capsule is dark brown-to-black, 3/8-inch long, and typically has 10 to 14 eggs per side.
Although the smokybrown cockroach is extremely rare in Virginia if you have a problem with roaches and would like information or treatment contact us.
Click here to learn more about cockroaches that are common in Virginia.