What Is a Palmetto Bug?
The palmetto bug is a general name for many large outdoor (peridomestic) cockroaches. These insects may accidentally get carried or wander into homes.
The term palmetto bug doesn’t include the smaller German cockroach. These tan cockroaches mostly live indoors. A palmetto bug’s appearance varies based on its species. This pest is known for its large size, typically measuring from 1.25 to 2 inches long. Common palmetto bug colors include black, dark brown, and tan.
The palmetto bug is an omnivorous scavenger that can eat almost any material, including baked goods, book bindings, grease, leather, meats, starchy foods, and wallpaper paste. Its diet varies somewhat by species. For instance, the brown-banded cockroach tends to eat starchy foods such as potatoes and rice, while the Oriental cockroach prefers decaying foods and garbage.
Palmetto Bug Lifespan
A palmetto bug's lifespan varies depending on factors including access to shelter, food, and water. In general, they can live for six months to more than a year.
Palmetto bug life cycle
All species of the palmetto bug have similar life cycles with three stages of development. The palmetto bug begins life as an egg. The eggs hatch into nymphs. These immature palmetto bugs are smaller than adults and have undeveloped wings ranging from tiny pads to longer wings. Nymphs molt, or shed their skins, several times, growing larger each time until they mature into adults. Adult palmetto bugs look soft and white immediately after molting, but their skin darkens and hardens into a brown or black shell.
Types of Palmetto Bugs
Many cockroach species fall into the category of palmetto bugs. Here’s a quick overview of some of the most common types you may encounter in your home.
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). This palmetto bug has a dark reddish-brown body with a light-colored pronotum covered with yellow markings. It runs quickly, which can make it difficult to catch. It can grow 1.5 to 2 inches long and often lives in palmetto trees along the coast.
Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa). This smaller cockroach has a narrower body and two distinctive yellow-brown bands running horizontally across its back. Most adult brown-banded cockroaches are 5/8 inches long. You can typically find this cockroach in public buildings, and it enjoys hiding in spaces such as behind picture frames and inside appliances.
Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana). This species is reddish brown or black and measures 1.2 to 1.6 inches long. It moves more slowly than other cockroaches and releases smelly defensive chemicals.
Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis). This variety reaches 1 to 1.25 inches long. It has a shiny, dark brown or black body, and females have small wings. Outdoors, the Oriental cockroach lives in stumps and trees. Indoors, it prefers cold and damp spaces like cellars.
Smoky brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa). The adult smoky brown has a dark brown body and measures 1 to 1.5 inches long. Young smoky browns have black bodies with white wings. They live in outdoor woodpiles, outbuildings, and garages.
Where Do Palmetto Bugs Live?
Palmetto bugs such as the Florida woods cockroach live in southeastern America in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Typical outdoor palmetto bug habitats include:
- Palm trees
- Rotting trees
- Sewer systems
- Wood piles
Indoors, you may find palmetto bugs in dark, moist areas, including:
- Basements
- Bathtubs
- Crawl spaces
- Garbage storage sites
- Room corners
- Sewers
- Storage rooms
Signs You Have Palmetto Bugs in Your House
It's normal to see one or two palmetto bugs in your home now and then, especially if you live in a warm climate with lots of wooded areas nearby. Palmetto bugs are usually nocturnal, so you’re more likely to see them crawling around at night.
It's possible to have more than a few in your home. This might mean an infestation. Aside from seeing more numerous bugs, you might also see:
- Egg cases, often found in kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms
- Droppings, sometimes mistaken for mouse droppings
- A musty smell from the pheromones they release
Regularly inspect food storage areas, basements, and other potential hiding spots for signs of palmetto bugs.
Why Do You Get Palmetto Bugs?
Certain conditions can attract or invite palmetto bugs into your home, such as:
- Cracks and crevices that bugs can squeeze through
- Food sources such as garbage cans and sink strainers
- Indoor plants
- Outdoor shrubbery
- Standing water, including leaky pipes and pet drinking dishes
- Torn window screens
- Unsealed sewer vents
Health Risks of Palmetto Bugs
Palmetto bugs pose some risks to human health:
Palmetto bug allergy. Some people are allergic to cockroaches. Symptoms include coughing, itchy skin, nasal congestion, red eyes, and sneezing. Children and adults may need medical treatment if exposure to cockroaches triggers an asthma attack.
Palmetto bug diseases. These pests can carry several diseases, including salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus. They can spread these diseases to you by walking over food or leaving their droppings in food storage or preparation areas.
How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs
You can use several methods to get rid of palmetto bugs. Here are a few common approaches:
Chemical control. You can use bait stations, gel baits, liquid baits, or insecticide spray to kill palmetto bugs. Keep bait out of reach of children and pets, and read the directions carefully to ensure you’re applying chemicals safely.
Less toxic/nontoxic options: Placing boric acid and silica gel in cracks and crevices can help eliminate palmetto bugs. Don’t apply dust near food sources or plants.
Perimeter treatment. You can apply outdoor products with carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon to exterior spaces where palmetto bugs may enter, such as foundation walls and doorways.
Maintaining a clean living space and using proper insect treatments can help you get rid of a palmetto bug infestation.
How to Keep Palmetto Bugs Away
You can take these steps to keep palmetto bugs away from and out of your home:
Get rid of food sources. Keep your kitchen and food storage areas clean and free of grease and crumbs. Tightly seal stored foods.
Eliminate moisture. Cockroaches like damp environments. Inspect your home and fix any leaks or places where water gets in and collects.
Seal up cracks and crevices. Palmetto bugs can squeeze in through very small openings. Close up any cracks in doors, windows, and foundations.
Clear away debris. Move any debris, such as woodpiles or rotting leaves, away from your home. Keep shrubbery near your house trimmed. Palmetto bugs are attracted to these dark, damp places.
Takeaways
Palmetto bugs are a group of large cockroaches that live outdoors but sometimes get indoors through cracks and crevices. Sometimes, they can cause an infestation. You can take steps to keep them out of your home, such as sealing cracks in door and window frames. You can treat an infestation with chemical-based solutions and nontoxic options, or call your local pest control.
Palmetto Bugs FAQs
Do palmetto bugs fly?
American, male brown-banded, and smoky brown cockroaches can fly in warm temperatures.
How can I identify a palmetto bug?
Palmetto bugs are large and oval-shaped, ranging in color from dark brown to reddish brown. They are larger than German cockroaches.
What is the difference between palmetto bugs and cockroaches?
Palmetto bug is another term for a group of large cockroaches that are common in warm areas of the Southeast.