“Palmetto bug” is a name applied to several species of large cockroaches. In southern states, they will also be found living and breeding outdoors such as in leaves and other decaying organic materials, like palmetto tree leaves.
“Palmetto bugs” prefer dark, warm and damp environments. They are also more comfortable living in temperatures ranging from the 70s to the 80s. More often than not, “Palmetto bugs” settle into your home’s basement and crawl space crevices.
They are 1 ½ inches to 2 inches lengthwise and are reddish brown in color.
Keep Palmetto Bugs Out of Your House
The key to getting rid of palmetto bugs is to find and treat these sources directly. In many cases, the services of a professional company, such as Terminix, are required to achieve long-term relief.
In our service area, where this cockroach lives outdoors, successful control involves treating the attic, crawl space, and exterior cracks in the home and finding and treating likely cockroach harborages over the entire property.
Identify points of entry: Cockroaches can hide almost anywhere, including cardboard boxes, false ceilings, in between walls, along pipes or electrical lines, or near any cracks or voids. They especially love damp, dark places, or areas where fecal matter has accumulated.
Treat affected or vulnerable areas: We’ll seal up any holes or crevasses, and use baits, traps and/or vacuums to reduce the current number of bugs.
Prevent them from returning: In addition to patching up physical vulnerabilities, we’ll recommend other ways to limit your risk, including proper cleaning and storage. And because cockroaches can often travel into buildings on boxes, packages or furniture, you should closely monitor any items you bring inside.
And with everything backed up by our unbeatable guarantee, you’ll never have to worry about your home turning into a roach motel.