The Pycnoscelus Surinamensis also known as Surinam cockroach is a burrowing roach breed that enter your homes through potted plants soil. The Surinam roaches love warm, humid places so mostly they sneak indoors via items brought in from greenhouses.
In other parts of the world, these insects crawl inside through open windows and open doors and other gaps and cracks that lets them get inside.
How to Get Rid of Surinam Cockroach in House
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Size
An adult Surinam cockroach sits between three-quarters to 1 inch in length.
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Color:
Suriname roaches have black or brown bodies with shiny brown wings. The male species possess longer wings than most of the females, but both gender can fly well.
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Behavior:
At the moment, male Surinam cockroaches are non-existent in North America but that does not mean this species is doing bad. In fact, they are doing surprisingly well.
This is due to the fact that females can produce offsprings without a male. Females reproduce other female clones and do so quickly without a male.
This quick ability spell doom for garden owner’s sine they feed on plants, you might be faced with Surinam cockroach infestation.
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Habitats
The Surinam roaches are mostly found in the Southeastern part of the United States, from North Carolina to Texas. They sometime travel to other states by burrowing themselves in the soil of tropical plants that are then shipped to other parts of the world.
A Surinam cockroach infestation in your yard causes largescale damage to vegetation’s, especially in heated greenhouses where large numbers can hide themselves during the day, coming out in the night to feed on the plants.
They have the ability to destroy any garden, whether the plants are outdoor or indoor. These roaches are also said to be garden dweller, specifically in gardens found in Texas, Louisana or Florida.
The Surinam roaches love dark, moist areas like your garden. They burrow and make homes in your soil and can be easily located under rotten branches, beneath rocks, in compost piles, in trash bags, lawn thatches and other debris.
Yes, they live in houseplants too! You may water your plants outside then bringing the plants back in, not seeing any sign of the roach crawling into the soil. This is often the first point of transit in most cases.
ALSO SEE: Blaberus Craniifer CareSheet
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Surinam Cockroach Breeding
In most cases, females are an important part in breeding since these roaches reproduce without a male mate, so a male fertilizing the eggs is not needed.
Now, a surprising feature of the Surinam roaches is they are oviparous.
That means a female Surinam cockroach will carry her egg inside her body after breeding until the Pycnoscelus Surinamensis hatch from the eggs and are birthed by the female.
Each egg cases can contain a minimum of 24 eggs and a female can lay an average of 3 egg cases at a time. They reproduce all times of the year.
You can get Surinam roach for sale online if you hope to breed them as feeders.
Tips for Control
This roach breed is rarely seen in homes.
You can control it’s spread by:
- Removing your leaf piles, trash and/or any moist places mentioned above.
- Making sure your attic vents and foundation have tight-fitting screens to prevent entry.
- Sealing exterior cracks.
ALSO READ: Can Dubia Roaches infest your home?
Frequently Asked Questions about Pycnoscelus Surinamensis
In this section of Pycnoscelus Surinamensis, we check out some common questions asked by people.
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Why am I finding roaches in my plants?
You find these pests in your home and yard because they are transported via plant soil and end up in your home buildings or inside your homes.
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Do Surinam cockroaches bite?
Yes, Surinam roaches can bite people but they do not like to. Plus, their mouthparts are so small even if they did bite you, you wouldn’t feel it as they are harmless.
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Do Surinam cockroaches fly?
The males can fly short distances but the females cannot fly at all.
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What Do Surinam roaches Eat?
These pests burrow into the soil and feed on plant stems and roots causing them to die off.
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Where Do Pycnoscelus Surinam Live?
They live underground and are night bugs. These cockroaches require moisture and warmth and cannot survive cold winters.
How do You Prevent a Surinam Cockroach Infestation?
Like normal cockroaches, we advise you keep your home and it’s surrounding clean. We understand how hard it might be to protect an entire yard or garden against an infestation, but we will be sharing quick tips below that can help prevent these burrowing bugs from coming too close to the house
- Ensure any paved areas are free of cracks and sealed tight. Even the smallest of patch of dirt in your driveway can be widened up a bit and made home by these Surinam cockroaches. Keep this too in mind as you examine your basement (as even the tiniest of cracks can be made a nesting area if not properly maintained and kept clear of soil or vegetation.)
- Check your wood that is outside as rotting woods are loved by these roaches.
- Lastly, watch out for any irregularities or disturbances in your lawn or garden. Bite-marks along leaves or stems of pants too may be signs of a family of SURINAM roaches nearby – so don’t miss it!
