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Palmetto bugs in the house? Here’s why.
“Palmetto bug” is Florida’s nickname for a big roach, usually the American cockroach. They live outside in mulch, drains and palm trees, and they wander in when rain, heat or a dry spell pushes them. Here’s how to tell what you’ve got and how to keep them out.
$125one-time treatment, inside and out, any size home.
What is a palmetto bug?
In Florida, “palmetto bug” usually means the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana): reddish-brown, about an inch and a half long, with a pale band behind the head. People also use the name for the smokybrown cockroach and the Florida woods roach, a slow, dark roach that gives off a strong smell when it’s bothered.
Whatever you call them, they’re outdoor roaches first. They live in mulch beds, leaf litter, palm trees, drains and sewers, and they come inside looking for water, food or a cooler spot.
Our own mascot, Palmetto Pete, is one. He’s packing.
Palmetto bug or German cockroach?
Both are roaches, but they live very different lives, and they’re treated differently.
| Palmetto bug (American cockroach) | German cockroach | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Big: about 1½ inches | Small: about ½ inch |
| Color | Reddish-brown, pale band behind the head | Light brown, two dark stripes behind the head |
| Lives | Outside: mulch, drains, palms, garages, attics | Inside: kitchens and bathrooms, near warmth and water |
| Usually seen | One at a time, at night or after rain | Several at once, even in daylight when there are lots |
| What it means | Usually wandering in from outside | Usually living and breeding inside |
| How we treat | Outside first: the foundation and every way in | Inside, right where they hide |
Why they show up all of a sudden
After heavy rain
Rain floods their hiding spots in mulch, soil and drains, so they move up and in, often under doors and through drains.
In the heat of summer
Hot, humid months are their busiest. More roaches outside means more wanderers inside.
During dry spells
When it’s dry outside, the water in your kitchen, bathrooms and AC drip lines looks pretty good.
When something changes
New mulch, a leak, or work on a lot next door can send them looking for a new place to live.
How to keep them out
A few small things help a lot, and they make any treatment work better.
Pull mulch back
Keep mulch and leaf litter a few inches from the foundation, and trim plants so they don’t touch the house.
Seal the way in
Weatherstrip doors, especially the garage, and close gaps around pipes, AC lines and dryer vents.
Fix drips
Leaky pipes, damp cabinets and AC condensate lines give them the water they’re after.
Cover the drains
Use covers or stoppers in tubs, showers and floor drains you don’t use often.
Palmetto bug questions
Ask Pete anything else, day or night, in English or Spanish.
Does one palmetto bug mean I have an infestation?
Not always. Big roaches often wander in from outside, especially after rain. Seeing several, seeing them in the daytime, or finding droppings or egg cases is a sign they may be living inside.
Can palmetto bugs fly?
Yes. American cockroaches can fly short distances and glide, usually when it’s warm. Most of the time they run.
Do palmetto bugs bite?
Very rarely. They’re mostly a nuisance, but roaches can track germs onto counters and food, so it’s worth keeping them out.
Why do I find them on their backs?
A roach on its back is usually dying or already dead. Their rounded, top-heavy bodies mean a weak roach often ends up belly-up.
How do you get rid of palmetto bugs?
We treat outside first: the foundation, doors, windows, eaves and the gaps where they get in, then inside where they hide. The one-time treatment is $125 for any size home, or the quarterly plan is $475 a year.
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Pest control
Inside and out, $125 one-time or $475 a year for the quarterly plan.
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Pick an open weekday and arrival window online, or text us at 941-896-2852 for the fastest reply, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
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Palmetto bug in the kitchen?We treat outside first, so they stay out.
One-time treatment $125