No one likes cockroaches. They have negative associations with filthy conditions and bacterial spread. Just seeing one of them can send chills down your spine and make you wonder if there are more. Unfortunately, you don’t have to wonder: if you see one, more are nearby.
The smoky brown cockroach can be found in the Southeastern United States as far north as North Carolina. If you’ve ever seen a fairly large, reddish-brown cockroach walking around your woodpile or among the mulch in your yard, chances are you’ve got smoky brown cockroaches. Read on to find out what they are and how to get rid of them.
WHAT IS A SMOKY BROWN COCKROACH?
As its name implies, the smoky brown cockroach has a uniform reddish-brown color and a shiny coat. Their color gives them good camouflage in woodpiles, mulch, and other brown-colored environments where they are normally found. They measure about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, similar in size and shape to the American cockroach. However, they don’t have the yellow accents that are typical of the American cockroach.
Smoky brown cockroaches have long wings, which they happily use to fly, especially on hot and humid summer evenings. They are strong fliers and tend to fly toward bright lights, and they may even wind up flying through an open window if the light is bright enough. Their antennae are as long as or longer than their bodies.
Because these cockroaches like high temperatures and high humidity, they’re typically found in the Southeastern United States from central Texas to Florida. They may also be found as far west as California and as far north as New York.
Usually, smoky brown cockroaches can be found in leaf litter, woodpiles, mulch, compost piles, and planter boxes. While they prefer the outdoors, it’s entirely possible to find them in your home, usually brought in with a pile of firewood or inside a box that was stored in your shed. They might also take refuge in your attic, preferring upper areas of buildings where the humidity is higher.
SMOKY BROWN COCKROACH LIFE STAGES
Smoky brown female cockroaches carry an egg case about 3/8 of an inch long, which may be dark brown or black. After one day, the female drops the egg case. The smoky brown cockroach babies then gestate in the egg case for anywhere from 24 to 70 days, depending on the temperature, before hatching.
About 20 to 40 smoky brown cockroach nymphs or babies may hatch from a single egg case. The nymphs start out with a darker brown color than adults, and they have two white stripes across their backs and at the end of their antennae. Because the nymphs are small and vulnerable at this stage, they will most likely stay hidden, and you probably won’t see them.
Adult smoky brown cockroaches lose the white stripes on their backs and antennae, and their color lightens from dark brown to reddish-brown. Their average life span is two to six months, and they like to infest wood piles, mulch, compost heaps, and any other moist and humid environment. They have even been found in water meter boxes. Smoky brown cockroaches spend their time searching for food, and if they find a food source near your home, they may wind up there too.
SMOKY BROWN COCKROACHES VS. AMERICAN COCKROACHES
Although smoky brown cockroaches are similar in shape to American cockroaches, they’re slightly smaller. Smoky browns may get as large as 1-1/2 inches, while American cockroaches can top out at 2 inches. Their color is also different, with smoky brown cockroaches looking shiny and smoky brown, while American cockroaches are a lighter brown with a yellowish color directly behind the head.
As far as behaviors, while smoky brown cockroaches are not as fast as American roaches, they can fly longer distances and use their long wings to do so. Smoky brown cockroaches are also attracted to light more than American cockroaches and tend to fly toward well-lit areas on hot, humid nights.
Smoky brown cockroaches appear primarily in the Southeastern United States, while American cockroaches can be found in the Southeast, Southwest, and Northeastern states. Smoky brown cockroaches prefer wood piles, compost heaps, and leaf litter, but American cockroaches prefer sewers, steam pipes, and utility tunnels.
SMOKY BROWN COCKROACH NEST
Though smoky brown cockroaches do not build nests like some other insects, an infestation of them in a small area is possible. Just like all cockroaches, if there’s an available food source, they’ll want to stick around. Chances are that you have plenty of available food sources in your backyard.
Considering that one egg case can hatch up to 40 baby cockroaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping them in check. Any time you see a smoky brown cockroach outside your house, you have to assume there are more. Because of this, you need to take precautions, or they will eventually find their way inside your house.
DO SMOKY BROWN COCKROACHES BITE?
Unlike other insects that use their bite for protection against predators, smoky brown cockroaches are not likely to bite. Yes, they can bite just like most other insects, but they’re much more likely to stay out of sight, run or fly away, rather than confronting a human.
Instead of worrying about bites from a smoky brown cockroach, it’s more sensible to worry about the bacteria they can bring into your home. Remember that these insects typically hang out in woodpiles, mulch, leaf litter, and other decaying matter that tends to be dirty and bacteria-filled. They have even been found in rain gutters feeding on bird droppings.
If the cockroaches find their way into your home, they’ll bring all of those dirty, bacteria-filled particles with them. Once inside, they can spread the bacteria wherever they walk, including your kitchen counter. They could contaminate your living space, and in some cases, negatively affect people’s asthma.
SMOKY BROWN COCKROACHES IN NORTH CAROLINA
Smoky brown cockroaches are found in North Carolina since their habitable range is primarily the Southeast of the United States. You probably don’t want these rather large, flying insects inhabiting your backyard or garden and possibly finding their way into your home, so now is the time to do something about it. Keep leaf litter, woodpiles, and compost heaps away from your house, and eliminate any unnecessary moist and humid environments in your yard.
While all of these actions will help prevent an infestation of smoky brown cockroaches, the only sure way to eliminate them is to call in a professional. Contact Clegg’s Pest Control today to get rid of smoky brown cockroaches and keep your living spaces pest-free. If you would like to learn more about the habits of cockroaches and how to exterminate this pest, visit our cockroach control page.
CLEGG’S PEST CONTROL CAN SOLVE YOUR ANT PROBLEM
If you have ever seen an ant in your house then you know that there is never just one. Ants live in large groups called colonies. Often times their nests are underground or inside trees, but sometimes ants move in and make their colony in the walls of a house or building. Inside of your home, ants can nest behind baseboards, moldings, countertops, inside walls, or even in your dishwasher. A single ant colony can live and reproduce for years with one queen, making them extremely hard to get rid of if they have set up residence in your home. Depending upon where the colony has made its nest, you may need to contact our team to control the infestation.
Surprisingly, what ants are attracted to actually changes throughout the year depending on where they are in their mating cycle. In the spring for example, when they are just beginning the mating and colonizing phase, they tend to be more attracted to high protein foods such as meat scraps left in the trash, peanut butter, other insects, or fats like grease, oil, and butter. As the summer continues, the new generation of ants requires more quick energy to grow and expand the nest so the ants will seek carbohydrates to eat for energy. This leads ants to be more attracted to sweets like crumbs and leftovers, spilled drinks, and garden produce.
No matter if the ants are entering your home in search of the food source they need, or if they have built up a residence in your walls, most people agree that getting them out is necessary. Contact our team to schedule your FREE initial inspection and get rid of ants in your home today.
TYPES OF ANTS
ODOROUS HOUSE ANTS
These ants have one node that is hidden by their abdomen and are dark brown to black in color. They are most often found in kitchens. When this ant is crushed it emits a coconut odor which signifies its name. Like the Argentine Ants, these ants may be found under mulch, along foundations, or underneath some form of debris. As with many ants, food sources will draw them out. If you have mulch or debris around the foundation of your home then you need to ensure that all cracks and crevices are sealed to prevent an inside invasion. Locating the nest is the surest way to eliminate the infestation but this is very difficult therefore bait is used on the ant trails which will lead the toxin back to the colony.
ACROBAT ANTS
These ants are yellowish brown to dark brown and are a little longer than 1/8 inch. Their abdomen is heart shaped and when disturbed they try to carry their abdomen above the rest of their body. If nesting outdoors they usually nest in decaying or dead wood. When foraging indoors they like wood or a damp wall cavity to nest in. A spray treatment should be performed in all areas these ants are found and drilling may be required to treat any wall voids that have become infested.
FIRE ANTS
Fire ants are red with 2 nodes and a stinger which sets them aside from most other ants. Fire ants are usually found outdoors versus indoors however when they do venture indoors it is usually along the edge of carpet. If you follow the trail back to the entry point then the mound is usually not far. We treat the mound(s) itself as well as the trail of ants.
How to Get Rid of Fire Ants: Read Article
Fire Ant Queen: Read Article
Fire Ant Mound: Read Article
CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ants have one node (circled) and an evenly rounded thorax. Carpenter vary is color and size but most are large and a blackish color. Parent colony lives in constant moisture. Satellite colonies are usually involved in infestations. Carpenter ants are most active at night, and the sound of a colony resembles that of wrinkling up cellophane. Colonies may exist in several areas including: wood, wall voids, hollow voids, under insulation, etc. Treatment usually involves the use of a dust and/or aerosol to flush out the existing colony.
Signs of Carpenter Ants: Read Article
Carpenter Ant vs Termite Damage: Read Article
Carpenter Ant Queen: Read Article
Carpenter Ant Bite: Read Article
What Do Carpenter Ants Eat: Read Article
FIELD ANTS
Field ants are black, brown, tan, reddish, or red and black in color. Field ants have 3 small eyes in the middle of their head (between their 2 compound eyes). Field ants are not usually found inside but rather around structures or under piles of wood, brick, or rocks. Once the colony is located, the mound itself is treated to eliminate the problem.
LITTLE BLACK ANTS
Black ants are tiny in size and are jet black in color. Little black ants occasionally invade homes but are usually found in the soil or nesting in the masonry or woodwork of a structure. Treating the colony itself is the best way to eliminate this ant. Indoor treatments may include the use of dust to treat wall voids.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Black Ants: Read Article
PAVEMENT ANTS
Pavement ants also have 2 nodes and are usually found in one of 3 places: 1) Outside along the foundation 2) Beneath slab foundation 3) Inside hollow foundation walls. Pavement ants may also be found trailing along the edge of carpets. Displaced soil indicates colony locations. They are a small brown to black ant with pale legs; their abdomen is black. Treatment is most successful when the colony itself is located and then treated. Depending on colony site, drilling may be required in order to apply the appropriate chemical.
PHARAOH ANTS
Pharaoh ants have 2 nodes (circled left) and are usually found traveling wires, the plumbing in walls, or inside wall outlet boxes. Baiting is the only effective treatment method for pharaoh ants. Pharaoh ants are known to have many colonies therefore all ant trails need to be baited. They are very small ants, usually light yellow to red in color with black markings on their abdomen.
CITRONELLA ANTS
Citronella Antsare usually light yellow to light reddish brown with small eyes and they have a citronella odor when crushed. Nest sites usually include open pastures, gardens, lawns, or around a home’s foundation. They may also be found underneath a concrete slab or inside of or underneath a timber that has become rotten. There are 2 species: the worker and the swarmer. The swarmers are almost twice the size of the workers and have smoke colored wings. Once colony is located the mound itself is treated to eliminate the problem.
ARGENTINE ANTS
Argentine Ants are a one node ant and that one node is sharply peaked. They are usually dull brown in color and when they are crushed a musty odor usually follows. Argentine ants are usually found outside under mulch, foundation slabs, or inside of a tree or shrub. We check all items that come in contact with the soil and treat all mounds that are located. On some occasions drilling may be required in order to treat a void that a colony may be inhabiting.
GHOST ANTS
Ghost Ants are a one node ant, very small in size, and pale in color. A rotten odor is emitted when ghost ants are crushed. Eliminating harborage sites around the foundation of a structure will help reduce the chance for an infestation of ghost ants. Ghost ants also travel inside along carpet edges, moldings, windowsills, electrical outlets, and any area near a water source. Finding the nest site by following the trail is the key to eliminating the infestation.
CRAZY ANTS
Crazy Ants are a one node ant, relatively small in size. They have extraordinarily long legs and are dark brown to blackish in color. Crazy ants are most easily identified by their zig-zag like movement. The crazy ant adapts very well to its environment whether it is a dry or wet habitat. We check all items that come in contact with the soil and treat all mounds that are located. On some occasions drilling may be required in order to treat a void that a colony may be inhabiting.
WHITE FOOTED ANTS
White Footed Ants have a hidden node. Its body color is darker than that of the odorous house ant and the end of their legs are a yellowish white color. These ants like to nest in soil, in old trees, and various other damp locations that have may provided a good nesting site. Their 2 preferred sources of food are dead insects and food with lots of sugar. Once the colony has been located the mound needs to be treated in addition to a perimeter spray performed around the infested site.
BIG HEADED ANTS
Big Headed Ants are a dimorphic species which means the worker ants vary in size. These ants are small in size and are yellowish or light to dark brown in color. The major worker has a large head for its body size whereas the minor worker’s head is more proportionate to its body size. These ants will nest in open areas but are usually found in the soil beneath a protective covering such as firewood or landscape timbers. Individual mounds should be drenched to eliminate the colony. Bait is effective for indoor treatments.
THIEF ANTS
Thief ants have 2 nodes, very small eyes, and is yellow to light brown in color. These ants normally nest outside in the soil underneath rocks. If these ants move inside they usually nest in wall voids or behind baseboards. Nests are hard to locate because they will travel long distances for food. These ants eat almost anything but prefer meats, fats, and grease. Ant bait is the most effective control method to use for thief ants.
