Not All Roaches Invade Homes – Types of Outdoor Roaches

Author: Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist 

No one likes finding roaches in their home, but did you know some roaches actually prefer to stay outdoors? Sometimes, finding a roach in your home means an outdoor roach accidentally got in, instead of the scarier possibility of a cockroach infestation. Check out these three outdoor roaches and how you can tell them apart from their indoor counterparts. 

Smoky Brown Roaches

Smoky Brown roaches are outdoor-loving roaches that thrive in warm, humid environments. They’re commonly found in mulch beds, woodpiles, gutters, and tree hollows. Unlike some roaches that venture inside for food or water, smoky browns usually stay outdoors unless drawn in by excessive light or unsealed entry points. While they don’t typically infest homes, their presence around the perimeter can lead to accidental indoor sightings. 

You can identify a Smoky Brown Roach by its:

• Uniform dark brown or mahogany coloring
• Sleek, shiny appearance
• Wings that extend past the body, making them strong flyers
• Body length of 1 to 1.5 inches

Wood Roaches

Wood roaches are native to wooded areas and are often found under bark, logs, and leaf litter. These roaches are not usually household pests and don't thrive indoors, even if they wander in. Males are especially attracted to porch lights at night and may fly toward windows or doors; however, wood roaches can’t survive long inside due to the dry conditions and lack of proper food sources.

You can identify a Wood Roach by its:

• Light brown to tan coloring with pale edges on the thorax and wings
• Males have long wings that allow them to fly, and females have short wings
• Body size ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches
• Active during the day, which is unusual for most roaches

Turkestan Roaches

Turkestan roaches are an invasive roach species becoming increasingly common in the southwestern United States, especially around landscaping, compost piles, cracks in pavement, and outdoor debris. These roaches thrive in warm, dry climates and often outcompete native species in urban areas. Males are attracted to lights at night and may accidentally fly indoors.

You can identify a Turkestan Roach by its:

• Males are reddish-brown with light yellow edges on the wings
• Females are dark brown to black with short wings
• Up to 1 inch long and adept flyers
• Females are bulkier with a wingless appearance, similar to oriental roaches

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