My family recently vacationed at the beach. One afternoon we went shopping to take a break from the sun and waves. While in a store, a large bug was joining in on the shopping. Palmetto bugs are common in warm, sub-tropical or tropical climates and are often encountered at coastal locations throughout the southeastern United States. The poor girl working in the store was terrified, and my brother-in-law saved the day by sweeping the big intruder back outside.
Although the name Palmetto bug sounds cute, these bugs are really just a large species of cockroach. Yes, an icky, disease carrying cockroach! The name Palmetto bug is used to describe the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). This species grows around 1.5-2 in. long, making it the largest species of common cockroach. They are reddish brown and have a yellow margin behind the head.
These cockroaches are often seen on Palmetto trees, a type of palm tree, giving them the
popular name, Palmetto bug. They prefer warm, damp locations. Although
they are mostly found outdoors, they sometimes wander inside,
especially into restaurants or damp places like bathrooms .
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| American Cockroach; photo courtesy of msu.edu |
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American cockroaches carry bacteria that is known to cause food poisoning, dysentery, and diarrhea in humans. They are also a potential cause of allergic dermitits and childhood asthma. Despite the name, American cockroaches originally came from tropical Africa. They are considered one of the fastest running insects.
It's getting harder and harder to avoid a close encounter with bed bugs. But there are some common sense ideas you can follow to protect you and your family from these nasty little pests.
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