Bug FAQBroad Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta lata · Order: Blattodea · Family: Ectobiidae
Broad Wood Cockroaches are relatively large, robust roaches whose males have glossy light-brown or reddish-brown backs and long forewings that extend past the abdomen. They live in eastern U.S. forests and grasslands but are also found indoors near lights and under wooden signs on trees. Their diet includes cambium, flower petals, sap and possibly nectar, indicating they feed on plant material.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Males are glossy light brown or reddish brown, while females are a darker brown. Male forewings are longer than the abdomen and wider than the pronotum.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is a methanogenic (methane-producing) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They commonly inhabit forests and grasslands. They have also been reported indoors, attracted to lights and found under wooden signs on trees.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They have been observed eating cambium, flower petals, and sap. Winged adults may seek nectar as an energy source for flying.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is distributed in the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 9 of 51 states and DC. Most records: South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Nebraska.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify a Broad Wood Cockroach?
Males have a glossy light-brown or reddish-brown back and long forewings that extend beyond the abdomen; females are darker brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Where might I find these cockroaches?
They are common in eastern U.S. forests and grasslands and are also found indoors near lights and under wooden signs on trees.
Source: Wikipedia
What do Broad Wood Cockroaches eat?
They feed on cambium, flower petals, sap and may also seek nectar for energy.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Ectobiidae)
German CockroachBlattella germanicaCan spread germs or disease
Pennsylvania Wood CockroachParcoblatta pennsylvanicaNuisance, not dangerous
Asian CockroachBlattella asahinaiNuisance, not dangerous
Brown-banded CockroachSupella longipalpaCan spread germs or disease
Variable CockroachPlanuncus tingitanus
Amber Wood CockroachEctobius vittiventrisHarmlessSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcoblatta_lata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.