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Unknown Bug

17 years ago

We're afraid of what this might be. Found it on the window screen here in NJ. These are not my images, but found on the internet and looks identical to what I now have in a baggie. Original picture taker says they saw the bug on the porch light in Pennsylvania. Thanks.

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Comments (8)

Elly_NJ
17 years ago
Yup, I think it's what you think.

Combat worked when I lived in NYC, and it was a miracle.
suzq_07
17 years ago
It's a german cockroach...the most common of the roaches. I live in NJ too and three days ago we found the exact same guy on our patio screen. Freaked us out. I'm in West Milford in a heavily wooded area...whereabouts are you? Same habitat?
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windchime
Original Author
17 years ago
I live very close to West Milford, and as you know our biggest pest problem in these areas are not roaches. I've had spiders, ants, field mice, and small ring-neck snakes in my house. Also have a problem with ticks and black bears outside. But NEVER have I seen a cockroach before! I'm totally freaked out right now and really itchy. I hope you're wrong! Why would there be a cockroach on your screen and my screen in the middle of the day in the middle of the woods in a place where it's too cold for them to survive through the winter?? Ack!
suzq_07
17 years ago
Got me...(ours was in the early, early morning with the porch light on)we considered bringing an exterminator in because we had that same mindset. If it's on our deck...are they in the house????!!! And then I tore the kitchen apart and bleached every cabinet. That's how freaked out we were!
windchime
Original Author
17 years ago
Well, I just posted my photo this afternoon on another bug forum because I found 2 more and I just couldn't take it anymore! I wanted to know how the he** these things got here! As it turns out, this is a wood cockroach and they are native to our area! They live outside under logs and can overwinter out there. They are attracted to light, and the person who responded told me that they that's probably why it came in (not for food.) I asked if they reproduce in the house (like other roaches.) I'm waiting for an answer and been doing my own research on that in the mean time (not having a ton of luck with the research.) But, I feel a *lot* better! I would never bring an exterminator in because I can't deal with the chemicals, but I have been thinking about ways to eradicate. Those little bait things, glue boards, boric acid? I guess I won't need anything. And the stigma is gone too! Don't you just love the internet! I learn something new everyday, including the fact that there are cockroaches that can overwinter in NJ and are not generally considered pests. Who knew? I'm still a little itchy, though.
suzq_07
17 years ago
Thank you! You are a lifesaver! We saved one in a jar...because we were going to call an exterminator, so I just did research on wood cockroaches, and sure enough...that's exactly what it is!!! What a relief!
gardenlover25
17 years ago
Its a German cockroach. In fact I have research from Google about this German roaches and here is what I have found.

Here is a link that might be useful: German cockroaches
suzq_07
17 years ago
No, that's what I thought originally, but what I had and what windchime posted doesn't have the two dark parallel lines down the length of the body...a detail I missed on the first go around.

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