How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs with Simple Methods

With these organic and synthetic methods, you can effectively get rid of palmetto bugs while also learning how to keep them out of your house in the future.

1. Seal Cracks in the Home
2. Clean Up the Kitchen
3. Take Care of the Garbage
4. Apply Peppermint Oil
5. Place Glue Traps
6. Apply Insect Killer
7. Send in the Pets
8. Call an Exterminator

What Are Palmetto Bugs?

You can tell palmetto bugs apart from other roaches by following these steps.

It's a good idea to know your enemy even though they don't require special care. And whether the bug is a roach at all.

3 Types of Palmetto Bugs

The term "palmetto bugs" refers to three different varieties of cockroaches.

1. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana): widespread throughout the southern United States, the Canary Islands, and southern Spain. It also goes by the names Bombay canary, ship cockroach, and kakerlac.
2. Smokybrown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa). The southern United States, Japan, Australia, and South America all have it frequently. It can be identified by its dark, shiny thorax.
3. Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana): Numerous other names that sound similar to it include Florida stink roach, skunk roach, stinking cockroach, and others.

The three cockroach species that go by the name "palmetto bugs" are larger than other roach species. The American cockroach is the biggest type of cockroach.

They are called palmetto bugs because they can be commonly seen on palmetto trees.

Even though there are numerous other cockroach species, only these three are commonly referred to as palmetto bugs.

Do Palmetto Bugs Bite?

Palmetto bugs rarely bite people because their diet consists primarily of plants, food scraps, trash, and decomposing animal matter. But if you get bit, the bite will appear as a tiny, red mark that will go away in a few days.

8 Ways to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs

1. Seal Cracks in the Home

The most crucial step in protecting your home from palmetto bugs is to fill in any cracks that may exist.

These cracks are the most common way for palmetto bugs to enter a building, as they lead directly from the outside world into the nooks and crannies of a structure.

The entire house may have these cracks and holes. In some cases, you might discover them in a cracked windowsill or a piece of warped wood.

As well as being in the paneling for electrical outlets, the backs of closets, cracks in door frames, and other dim areas of the house may also contain them. Even the home's foundation may contain them.

Grab some caulk or another sealant and go around the entire house to fill in the cracks to reduce the risk of further damage.

2. Clean Up the Kitchen

A reason that roaches are attracted to your home might be that there are lots of food crumbs left out.

This can be particularly worrying because palmetto bugs can walk through the kitchen and shed their skin and leave feces behind. You run the risk of contracting a foodborne illness because of these droppings.

You should take great care to thoroughly clean your kitchen. Clean up crumbs from anywhere you can, including the refrigerator, the pantry, and all of the cabinets, using a paper towel, disinfectant wipe, or handheld vacuum.

Making sure palmetto bugs don't find food inside your home by doing this can be incredibly simple.

3. Take Care of the Garbage

You'll want to make sure to regularly take out your trash and recycling in addition to cleaning up clutter and detritus from the kitchen.

You should prevent palmetto bugs from accessing these areas because they will congregate there and even hide there.

Once or twice per day, remove the trash and recycle if you have a palmetto infestation.

There are probably (many) more palmetto bugs than the one you found.

4. Apply Peppermint Oil

Some essential oils have been shown to kill roaches, but many have also been shown to repel them.

Cockroaches have been shown to be poisoned by peppermint oil.

Peppermint oil might be the best choice to try out if you're going to experiment. Before applying, you should, of course, consider how it might affect your pets, children, and furniture.

5. Place Glue Traps

Placing glue traps is the next step after determining the source of your palmetto issue. Place these traps all over the place, especially in areas where you've seen bugs before or where they might be attracted.

The bugs will become stuck to the traps once they touch them, making it simple for you to get rid of them.

Make sure you are aware of whether your trap contains toxic or nontoxic materials. This will have an impact on how you manage these at home.

6. Apply Insect Killer

If glue traps alone aren't handling your palmetto bug infestation, the next thing you can do is experiment with insect-killing substances, like boric acid or diatomaceous earth.

Both poisoning and exoskeleton damage caused by boric acid can cause palmetto bugs to die. When palmetto bugs consume boric acid, their bodies are poisoned and they eventually perish.

Boric acid can be combined with sugar, flour, and some oil and placed close to cockroaches' favorite hiding places to attract them. Although to them it will be a snack, it will guarantee that their days are numbered.

When using boric acid around small children or pets, use caution. The directions on the package should always be followed.

Diatomaceous earth is an additional choice; it is a white organic powder that damages and eventually kills palmetto skeletons by destroying their exoskeletons.

7. Send in the Pets

The traditional methods are frequently the best if all else fails. Since ancient times, people have kept cats and dogs as pest control, allowing them to eat the bugs.

Particularly skilled at using palmetto bugs as entertainment, cats are excellent roach-killers.

Even though they may not be a perfect solution, pets can still be a great way to reduce palmetto issues.

They're a great tool when used in conjunction with good home hygiene, and they also provide companionship and love.

8. Call An Exterminator

In the event that all other measures fail, you might want to contact an exterminator to handle your palmetto bug issues.

They'll have access to specialized tools, pesticides, and methods that you might not. It wouldn't hurt to seek an expert opinion if the issue was truly out of control.

Identifying a Palmetto Bug Infestation

It might be challenging to determine whether you have an infestation because palmetto bugs are rarely seen during the day. Look for these signs to help you determine if you have an infestation:

• A distinct, musty smell in your bathroom or basement
• Chew marks on curtains, stamps, or envelopes (palmetto bugs love to eat anything with glue or starch)
• Shed skins and droppings that look like pepper flakes

Palmetto bugs are typically found outside under palm leaves, among shrubs, in sewers, woodpiles, and mulch. They prefer moist, damp environments. They might congregate around your pool, under your roof shingles, palm trees, and foundation. When the outside temperature drops, these pests will enter your house by crawling under doors, through pipes, and holes in your walls. They can also be found in bathtub drains, behind dishwashers, by trash cans, under refrigerators, and in attics, crawl spaces, and attics.

Palmetto bugs are a type of insect that can be found in Florida and other states in the southeastern United States due to their attraction to warm, tropical climates.

As they are more likely to search for food at night, they are most active during that time. Palmetto bugs are drawn to light, so at night they may fly toward porch lights in search of insects to eat. Getting rid of them as soon as you notice them is crucial because they can survive for up to three months without food and one month without water.

to Since most bugs spend their lives outdoors, it is concerning if they enter your home. The main reasons why palmetto bugs are inside are:

1. Food and water sources

Palmetto bugs can find food and water on your countertops, pet food bowls, pantry shelves, and other surfaces. Make sure to cover all food containers properly and clean up spills.

2. Warmth

In the winter, palmetto bugs are more likely to seek out a warm, moist shelter inside a house.

3. Shelter

Palmetto bugs may have to adjust to monsoons, extreme heat, and cold in Arizona and other desert climates. Anything outside that range may attract palmetto bugs to your home because they prefer temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's likely that you are giving palmetto bugs one or more of these opportunities if you notice them in your home.

Preventing a Palmetto Bug Infestation

To prevent future palmetto bug infestations, follow these recommended tips:

• Make sure there are no gaps for insects to squeeze through by installing a door seal under your front door.
• Put screens on the windows, doors, and attic vents.
• Caulk can be used to fill in holes and cracks in your foundation and walls.
• To stop bugs from being drawn to a potential food source, use a trash can with a lid.
• Because palmetto bugs are drawn to mulch, lessen the amount of mulch around your house.

Also Read How to Get Rid of the Following Species:

Animals:

• Groundhogs
• Ground Moles
• Moles and Gophers
• Chipmunks
• Rabbits
• Armadillo

Pests:

• Ant
• Brown Recluse Spiders
• Hornets
• Spider Mites
• Water Bugs
• Black Caterpillars
• Grass Flies
• Carpenter Bees
• Beetles
• Scorpions

Plants:

• Mushrooms

FAQs

What Smell Do Palmetto Bugs Hate

Since mint oil is poisonous to insects, it will get rid of any musty smells they may leave behind. In a spray bottle with water, add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. Use this mixture to mist areas where you suspect roaches are present. The smell will chase the bugs away.

How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs in My Car

Place natural deterrents like garlic, bay leaves and catnip inside your car, underneath the seat, in the glove compartment and the trunk. To maintain their effectiveness, change them every few weeks. To eliminate any pests that may linger, you should also think about keeping traps, gel baits, and boric acid in the proper locations.

How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs With Essential Oils

Use borax-based cockroach baits, homemade sprays, or insecticides to get rid of them. Essential oils such as peppermint, oregano, catnip oil, rosemary, cedar, and eucalyptus oil can be used. Keep the house tidy, dry, and sanitary at all times by creating a spray of water and dish soap.

How to Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs Naturally

Borax is an effective organic way to kill palmetto bugs. Spread a mixture of one part borax and one part powdered sugar in areas where palmetto bugs hide, such as beneath sinks, behind appliances, and around water heaters.