This is a unique trait not found in most Florida cockroaches. Defense – The Florida Woods is also known as the ‘stinking’ cockroach due to the foul liquid it can produce to ward off predators.From a hatched egg, Palmetto bugs can reach adulthood in about four months – longer than German cockroaches which take two months, and much shorter than Smokybrowns which take ten months, plus American cockroaches which can take up to 600 days. Activity – Florida’s warm climate ensures cockroach activity doesn’t slow down much during the winter, though most of their breeding takes place during the spring and summer months.Most other cockroaches prefer to stay closer to the home, inside it, or underneath. As the name implies, Florida Woods cockroaches prefer to be outside underneath the shrubbery, mold, and soil they feed on. Dwelling Habits – If you reserve the pest control services of a bug exterminator for a palmetto bug infestation, a majority of the work will likely be outdoors. ![]() Its undeveloped wings make it unable to fly the distances of the other species. Due to its stoutness, the Florida Woods also tends to be slightly rounder than its oval-shaped relatives with an armored beetle look. The Florida Woods cockroach is also the darkest of the species unless it’s recently molted, which leaves it reddish-brown for some time. Appearance – Florida’s palmetto bugs are the largest of the four, growing as large as 1.6 inches, while American cockroaches trailing right behind at 1.5 inches, Smokybrowns at 1.4 inches, and German cockroaches get no bigger than 5/8ths of an inch.Now that we’ve established which species is known as the palmetto bug throughout South Florida and the rest of the state, we can look at what differentiates them from other cockroaches commonly targeted with pest control services – American, German, and Smokybrown. What are the Differences Between Cockroaches and Palmetto Bugs? This sets them apart from other species, though they are closely related. Palmetto bugs are a type of cockroach in Florida, specifically called the Florida Woods cockroach. A bug exterminator might describe them as similar to Oriental cockroaches. Adults can grow to 1.6 inches, with a color that ranges from reddish-brown to a very dark brown, and tiny wings that do not facilitate flight. Since it’s assumed the term ‘palmetto bug’ is a reference to any roach that could be hiding under the shed bark at the base of palmetto trees, the lack of consensus makes sense.įor residents of Florida, however, a palmetto big is the Florida Woods cockroach, or Eurycotis Floridana – one of the largest species. In South Carolina, palmetto bugs are a colloquial name for the American Cockroach, while some residents in Texas and Georgia reserve this name for the Smokybrown variant. Depending on where you are in the country, the palmetto bug may not refer to the same species. What is a Palmetto Bug?Įver been confused about palmetto bugs versus cockroaches? You’re not alone. ![]() So, what about cockroaches and palmetto bugs? Is there a difference in how they look? What problems do they pose, and how do pest control professionals recommend getting rid of them? The answer to this question is quite specific for Florida’s residents – keep reading to get the rundown from GPC’s experts. The effects of flea and bed bug infestations are both stressful and require immediate pest control services, but the diseases that fleas carry may cause severe illness or death. ![]() For example, termites destroy the home by eating wood, while ants burrow through it to make tunnels. Ants and termites, rats and mice, bed bugs and fleas – to the untrained eye, it can be difficult to tell which of these has made their way into your home, and in most cases, it’s the damage and waste they leave behind that offers the biggest clue. What’s the difference?įrom a distance, many of South Florida’s most common pests have a striking resemblance. Today’s article covers the differences between two Florida staples: palmetto bugs and cockroaches. However, for pest control purposes, it may be worth knowing what type of insect it is. When a flat, brown, six-legged bug flits through your window or across your kitchen floor, a closer look is probably the last thing on your mind.
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