Amazing Facts About Palmetto Bugs

Palmetto bugs, also known as American Cockroaches or Smokybrown Cockroaches, usually infest homes during cold weather. They carry many disease-carrying bacteria, which can spread to humans if they contaminate the food. These disease-causing bacteria can cause severe health conditions such as – vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, etc. 

If you are scared of cockroaches and bugs but are unsure how to identify or eliminate them, this article is for you. 

How to Identify a Palmetto Bug Infestation?

Palmetto bugs are not seen during the day, making it difficult to understand if you really have an infestation. They prefer living in damp and moist areas and are often found under palm trees, shrubs, sewers, mulches, etc. However, if you look for the signs below, you can determine if these scurrying insects invade your house –

• Skin sheds and drops that look like grains or pepper flakes.
• Strange musty smell in and around your house.
• Chew marks on table clothes, bedsheets, curtains, etc.

You can find them around your trash bins, under the fridge, attic, drains, etc. They are primarily active during the night and are attracted to light. You can find them running toward the light during the evening to catch insects that fly around. They can live without food for up to three months and go without water for up to one month. 

What Does the Palmetto Bug Look Like?

Palmetto bugs are the largest house-invading cockroaches in the US, Southern Canada, and parts of Mexico. They have shiny bodies with reddish brown color and light tan spots on their head. They measure up to 27 to 40 mm long. They have wings but do not fly. 

Palmetto bugs are commonly confused with other cockroaches, such as – Smokybrown and Oriental cockroaches – also known as water bugs. As the size, shape, and color of all the species are almost similar, it is quite understandable that we often mistake these species as similar. Other names for palmetto bugs are – Florida Wood Roach, Water Bug, Flying Water Bug, and many more. 

How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs?

Palmetto bugs are common in shipyards, bakeries, markets, apartments, complexes, and other residential areas. They cause nuisance and spread disease. So you must get rid of them. Below are a few ways to get rid of palmetto bugs –

Sanitation and Cleanliness

Palmetto bugs are attracted to dirt and mess. So, if you have any open areas with garbage, clean them often and ensure you are not leaving your kitchen and pantry open and dirty. Also, the allies are most likely to be infested with them. So, always ensure to look for them here and there and get rid of them.

Seal the Drains and Pipes

Sealing all your leaky pipes and drains is better to ensure they are not invading the house. Also, they can enter the house through the cracked bathroom tiles. Tidy them up and seal them with good tile fixers.

Use Bug Traps

There are many bug traps found in the market. Keep them around the corner of your home with bits of food, and any bugs that move around will be stuck on them.

Vacuum Regularly

Clean up any food crumbs or particles to eliminate the threat of these scurrying creatures. This is because the leftovers are the potential food source for cockroaches and bugs.

Set Out Neem Oil Baits

You can find neem seed extracts and spray them in every nook and corner of your home. This interferes with the hormones of palmetto bugs, which stops them from breeding. 

Use Old Coffee Powder

Palmetto bugs and cockroaches are attracted to the scents of coffee. Put a jar with water and coffee in the corner of your house where you have seen the creatures. Once they enter the jar, they won’t be able to escape. Keep the jar in the same spot, and once you see a good number of bugs trapped, throw away the jar. 

Chemical Control

Chemical control can be your best friend when nothing works, and the infestation is too much. There are many professional roach killers who will help you with the problem. Also, if you think of using chemical control, the best way to eliminate them is by using food as bait.

How to Prevent Palmetto Bugs Infestation?

Palmetto bugs enter the house through infested suitcases, boxes, and other containers. So, checking any boxes or containers you bring in is essential. Follow the steps below to prevent infestation of palmetto bugs –

• Put the door seal under your door to ensure no gaps for the bugs to crawl through.
• Put attic and vent screens so that no bugs can come through those openings
• Seal all the cracks and dents in the wall or sink.
• Use a dustbin with a lid so the trash is not exposed, which could invite the bugs.
• Fix any leaky pipes or drainage system.
• Don’t leave food in the open.
• Clean up your bathroom and kitchen more often.
• Recycle cans and bottles.

Conclusion

People usually joke that palmetto bugs can survive the nuclear attack – however, they cannot survive the nuclear attack but can sustain 15 times the radiation than humans. Also, they can survive months without food. They originate from different states of the US. But no matter where they are from, they are pests that need to be eliminated.

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