Pest Library

Characteristics

The Surinam cockroaches are tropical cockroaches that are ¾ inches to 1 inch long. They have brown to black color on their pronotum, and have an olive green to shiny brown or paler wings.

Habitat

This cockroach is a common outdoor pest since it prefers to live in mold, soil, compost piles, under leaf litter, lumber piles, mulch, and the likes. The Surinam cockroach has the ability to dig into the soil to create its burrow. It can dig a three to four inches deep burrow to place its nymphs or to incubate itself and its egg capsules.

The Surinam cockroach has been reported present in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Their most preferred locations are greenhouses, yards, and atriums. They are sometimes also found in shopping malls and restaurants in potted plants as they are unknowingly transported in these places.

Behavior

Surinam cockroaches are nocturnal insects that come out at night to feed on plants. To survive, this cockroach needs moist because it has the ability to absorb water faster, compared to its cousins.

This cockroach is not your average cockroach. Many researchers regard them as unique because of their ability to reproduce parthenogentically. This means that the female cockroach does not have to mate in order to reproduce.

Food

They are plant feeders that can cause destruction of plants. They will commonly come out at night and feed on the softer parts of plants and severely damage them.

Life Cycle

The Surinam cockroach has the ability to reproduce without the help of a male through the process of parthenogenesis. Once the female reaches maturity, she will be able to produce eggs inside her abdomen that will also hatch internally. Each female can produce 3 egg cases in their lifetime, with 24 eggs inside. They do not need males, and there are no reports of this male cockroach in the U.S.

Other Information and Tips

Although these cockroaches do not infest homes, they can sometimes enter through potted plants that were brought inside homes. Such infestations can be controlled by placing granular baits in the infested areas.

For outdoor infestations, controlling these insects will include removing and eliminating the harborage areas. Excessive leaf litter, mulch and items such as stones, timbers, or other objects that are not needed in the area should be removed.

This tropical cockroach can be difficult to detect since it does not come out during the day. In most cases, these cockroaches will only be seen when their population has already grown. While granule and baits can be given, and residual materials can also be applied to plantings, woodpiles and foundations in the infested areas, it is still recommended to consult a pest control specialist to assess, search and eliminate the harborages of these cockroaches and the cockroaches as well.