Unboxing More Than You Ordered: Smokybrown Cockroaches
If you’ve noticed more Smokybrown cockroaches around your home or business lately, you’re not alone. This particular species, known for its glossy, dark brown color, has been on the rise in many parts of the country. But why now? And why so suddenly?
Because of the explosion of online shopping and doorstep deliveries.
What Makes Smokybrown Cockroaches Different?
Smokybrown cockroaches are often confused with American cockroaches, but they have a few distinct traits:
Uniform dark brown body with a shiny finish
Fully winged and strong fliers, especially at night
Thrive in warm, damp environments like gutters, mulch beds, attic spaces, and cardboard-rich storage areas.
More likely to live outdoors
The Perfect Roach Highway
As packages move from warehouses to delivery trucks to front porches, they provide countless opportunities for pests to hitch a ride. By the time a box reaches your doorstep, a nymph or egg case could already be tucked inside a flap or crease. Online shopping has created a new transportation network.
1. Cardboard Boxes Are Roach-Friendly: They love cardboard; it retains moisture, holds odor, and provides shelter in folds and seams.
2. Warehouses Create Ideal Conditions: Cardboard, cardboard, cardboard - and with products constantly rotating, it’s easy for a few roaches to spread unnoticed.
3. Increased Frequency of Deliveries
Why They’re Showing Up in More Homes Now
Smokybrown cockroaches typically thrive outdoors, but several factors are now drawing them closer to homes:
Frequent deliveries
Increased cardboard waste indoors
Warmer overall climate
Higher humidity
As delivery habits continue to increase, so does their potential footprint.
How to Reduce the Risk of Bringing Roaches Inside
You don’t need to stop online shopping, but you can adjust how you handle packages.
Open boxes outdoors when possible
Break down and remove cardboard quickly
Keep doorways and porch areas clean
Inspect deliveries for signs of pests
Reduce moisture around your home
For more tips, you can read our blog about general pest info during the holidays here.
