The Brown-hooded Cockroach is a flightless, wood-eating cockroach of the Appalachian mountains that lives in small family groups inside rotting logs — an unusual level of biparental care and social behavior. Remarkably, it harbors the same gut microbiome as termites (with which it is closely related) and was crucial in establishing the evolutionary link between cockroaches and termites. Young nymphs must obtain gut symbionts by feeding on parent fecal material.
Best time to see a Brown-hooded Cockroach
The best time to see a Brown-hooded Cockroach is March–July, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 131 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Brown-hooded Cockroach? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Brown-hooded Cockroach sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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