Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > May > 12 > Entry
Attack of the Palmetto bugs!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK.
I’m going to say this as calmly as possible.
BIG. BUG. GREAT BIG GIANT UGLY RED BUG.
IN MY BATHROOM.
RIGHT NOW.
::deep breath::
OK.
Scroll down if you’re squeamish. This is the suspect:
I’ve noticed a few of these ugly bug carcasses around my apartment building lately; it struck me as a seasonal thing, kind of like the day I walked outside and saw that my blue car was a shade of pollen-ized green. A friend that spotted me hovering over the remains of one such bug quickly assured me that I need not panic over that one: “We grow them much bigger down here.”
Again, spoken with false calm: Indeed. Much bigger than I am used to.
But it’s one thing to catch a roach belly-up in the laundry room, another entirely to watch one scurry from beneath your towel, post-shower.
It took about 30 seconds of searching for Google to tell me that what I’m seeing is the American Cockroach, a fine, sturdy breed if there ever was one, known around here as the palmetto bug. How charming.
A childhood obsession with Charlotte’s Web translates into an adult affinity for spiders, and my general sense about icky things is that we are washable. (Hence that whole grit-diving thing.) I draw the line at things the size of some household pets.
The AJC archives tell me that these bugs are quite common in the Southeast United States, and they multiply quickly in wet conditions. Goody.
Any other creepy-crawlies I and other newbies should be aware of? Just tell me now so I’m not shocked later.
If you’re dying to know more, I reposted some info from a 2003 AJC story by Jim Howell that told me more than I cared to know about my free-loading roach roommate, or rather, my palmetto pal. As the story says: “It seems a bit more socially acceptable to say that our home has palmetto bugs rather than roaches.”
Either way — ew.
From the story:
Cockroaches have been around for more than 300 million years, and in that time, they have changed relatively little compared with other organisms. They are incredibly adaptable and have adjusted well to living with humans.
In this area, there are about five important species that invade our homes, and two of them are lumped together in a small group commonly referred to as palmetto bugs. Somehow, it seems a bit more socially acceptable to say that our home has palmetto bugs rather than roaches.
The presence of a large cockroach, though physically harmless, should not be underestimated. I have seen women and children scream and run from the room when first confronted with a large adult palmetto bug inside their home. I remember one particular evening when I was visiting friends and a large adult bug chose to ”fly” into the room and land on the back of our hostess’ neck. The result, had it been caught on film, would have definitely shown up on “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
Identification The American cockroach and the smoky brown cockroach are similar in appearance and biology. The adult American roach is 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, reddish brown, with pale “halolike” markings behind the head. The smoky brown is 1-1 1/2 inches in length and uniformly smoky brown in color. Both can live outdoors and are often self-prescribed caretakers of that dark and clammy space under our decks, porches and crawl spaces.
Biology Both species produce a small case called an ootheca in which about 16 to 20 eggs are deposited. Females drop these cases in secluded places and the eggs hatch in about six weeks. The young reach adulthood in another six to 12 months. When disturbed, palmetto bugs will run rapidly, but on rarer occasions they may fly as well. Though they prefer areas of higher moisture, palmetto bugs can be found throughout the house, at least on the first floor. These species will enter our homes when opportunity permits, through an open door or window or any tiny crevice that affords an entrance.
Damage Their presence alone is enough to afford them “pest status” (especially when they land abruptly on one’s neck), but in addition, they will feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material. Roaches can contaminate food and damage books, clothing and wallpaper and in large numbers can produce a very unpleasant odor. They have even been associated with childhood asthma.
Control Though generally not present in large numbers, these pests will move inside during certain times of year, especially in the fall when outdoor temperatures are cooling down. Exclusion is one way to slow down this seasonal invasion. Seal outside doors with weatherstripping. Use caulking compounds for gaps in walls and floors where pipes enter.
Basement populations can be reduced by controlling dampness with dehumidifiers. If roaches have established a population inside, keep food and garbage sealed in tight containers. Keep clutter from accumulating and vacuum often. Good sanitation is imperative inside and outside the house.
Chemical combat There are many products on the market for roach control. Most come in spray, dust or bait form. Though sprays offer the quickest control and may repel (and kill some) roaches, others will hide until the pesticide residue has diminished. Dusts are longer lasting. Boric acid is perhaps the most popular and can be very effective when applied in a thin film in out-of-the-way places —- under refrigerators, stoves, sinks and in wall voids. Baits can be extremely effective, but remember to use the larger bait stations for palmetto bugs.
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: Uniquely Georgia
Comments
By me
May 12, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Diatomaceous Earth , SAME PRODUCT USED IN SOME POOL FILTERS, IS INEXPENSIVE AND WILL KILL ROACHES. It can be sprinkled around the foundation of your home and as a roach walks through it, the roach ingests the sharp edged product. As this works through the roach it acts as glass shards and will cause it’s death without the use of insecticide. Though DE can be harmful if inhaled, it poses no known threat if ingested by humans. Look it up.
By Dee
May 12, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Have you run into our scorpions yet? :-)…No, really, I’m not kidding!
By Jeff
May 12, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
We have all kinds of weird and interesting creepy crawlies (and flyies) around here.
Scorpions are one that most don’t know actually are found in GA. I encountered one years ago in Cherokee County outside Woodstock. I was around 10 at the time, and the only time I had seen one outside of books was in Honey I Shrunk the Kids!
My coworker in Macon had one at her apartment last summer.
Of the bigger insects: Praying Mantis. You will see them from time to time.
Spiders: We have all kinds. I’ve seen them big and small (including one on a web long ago that HAD to be the size of a softball, at LEAST).
Probably the most annoying are fleas/chiggers/bed bugs. They’re all over the place, and the heat only brings them out more - which means we are entering prime time to see them.
As for how to deal with them? Well, I once encountered a black widow in my back yard. It met the sledge hammer I was using a few times, and then it met the gasoline that I was using for the chainsaw a couple of times, closely followed by a match. Note that this approach is not recommended for indoor use, but it HAS proven effective on ants as well - including whole ant mounds. Of course, back when I was using said approach gas was closer to $1/gallon….
By Paul
May 12, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
My grandmother in Houston would never admit that she had cockroaches in or near her house. She called them “water bugs.” The rest of us called them what they were — cockroaches.
Boric acid (Roach Prufe) is pretty effective.
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
May 12, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Oh my gosh…it’s just a bug :::rolling eyes::::::
By John
May 12, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
See the Japanese film “Twilight of the Cockroaches”. You will never think about cockroaches the same.
By Stephy
May 12, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
I am petrified of these bugs…I hate seeing them. They love to hang out around pine trees, also. An John, I do not plan on watching any movies about them…lol.
By One
May 12, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Okay, I’m feeling queasy just reading the blog!!! I don’t do bugs, PERIOD!!! If you crawl into (or near) my house, you die, plain and simple!!! I spray outside around the perimeter of the house several times a year. These extremely nasty creatures (that is a disgusting pic, by the way), seem to be more prevelant in some areas, and thank God we live in an area where you’re more likely to see crickets (or those annoying little spiders, eeeewwwww) than cockroaches. It’s funny because as a child, I remember that our house didn’t have roaches (or bugs period), but some of our cousins homes had them practically diving off the walls/ceilings. And as much as I loved playing with those cousins, I couldn’t stand going to their house. I’ve even had someone to tell me that “everybody had roaches back then”, and my sister and I both thought (and told them), “no we did’t, our momma didn’t play that!”!!! Okay, I need to go scrub my skin off now……..just the thought makes me itch…….
By Cheryl
May 12, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Combat gel works wonders. Put it in drawers and along baseboards;you will notice the difference immediately.
By emjay
May 12, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
If you want to see a “Palmetto Bug”, try the gigantic ones that roamed the sidewalks in South Florida. I am not kidding when I say they were the size of the palm of my hand. So gross…
By One
May 12, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Stephy, you’re right. I used to live in a community called Pine Crossing, and you can imagine the abundance of roaches. I had to move!!!
This is nothing, however, to the flying roaches (humongous ones) I used to see in Miami. Woooooo….
By Clayton
May 12, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
In order of annoyance:
1 - ANTS (I hate these buggers, you leave 1 crumb in the sink and they’re all over it.) Use the poison bait around the corners of your house and inside under the sink. Don’t put it near the mounds. Not sure what to treat the mounds with, nothing I use seems kill them. 2 - Cockroaches. After declaring war on ants, your almost grateful to see these. Roach motels work great. 3 - Lady Bugs … they multiply quick, and there doesn’t seem to be any rime or reason as why some places are pestered but not others.By Laura
May 12, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
I have lived in the deep south all my life yet I have still not gotten used to these bugs. I will happily dispose of a spider or centipede but these flying cockroaches send me into hysterics. I can’t even pick up the dead ones. Yuck!! I joke with my husband that should I ever find myself, god forbid, widowed then I will remarry pronto just to have a resident cockroach killer. It is a joke but sadly there is some truth to it.
By One
May 12, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Clayton, try pouring chlorine bleach on the mounds, wipes ‘em right out!
lol @ Laura, “resident cockroach killer”, I know what you mean!
By Yuke
May 12, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
I agree, I agree with any one who thinks that bugs should be destroyed. I hate them! I hate them! I dislike when people say that they are only God’s creature..Yeah whatever. if they are in my personal space..then that’s one I have to explain on the “j” day. Anywho…that’s why I got out of law enforcement (okay not really, but one of a 1,000 reasons) because people would always say “you’re a cop you’re not suppose to be scared”. My response was, “when they start making handcuffs small enough to arrest one then I will no longer be scared (lol).
By Lissa
May 12, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Yep, palmetto = cockroach = water bug. My dad is from south GA and he calls them water bugs. Either way, they must DIE!!
Back in my old apartment, I only found three roaches during four years living there, and all were already dead. However, I did have a spider problem. OMG, they loved my bathroom!
I have found one way to help keep the pests out is to keep the drains closed when not in use. It actually does help as it limits one of the ways they can enter the home.
By Old School
May 12, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Why, bless your heart! Since our experiences with the critters seem to occur when we have folks over, we refer to the insects as “company bugs.” That way you can blame their appearance on other people.
Roaches/water bugs/company bugs are themselves a very good reason for us Southern ladies to have husbands. That POP! they make when stepped on gives me the shudders and I’m not about to step on or pick one up!
By diy
May 12, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
We buy Demon WP from Do It Yourself Pest Control. It leaves a swath of buggy death around our house. For ant mounds, they sell this stinky white powder that is fantastic.
By Jamie
May 12, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I just want to know how they know to run toward me (which causes me to retreat) instead of away from me.
By Grammaw
May 12, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Yes, I’ve encountered a few scorpions here. They give me the “willies”. My daughter was “camping out” in the backyard, and when she came inside with her sleeping bag, we found THREE inside of it!!! Back to palmettos…I hate those thing worse…especially when I can sit in a quiet living room, and HEAR one WALKING on my counter in the next room! (Hairspray works great if you have no bug spray…it freezes them…LOL) Just last night I was in the downstairs bathroom fixing my hair and looked up in time to see one go from the wall to the ceiling…perfect…it dropped RIGHT into the TOILET!!! FLUSSSSSH! Georgia is very buggy.
By kitty
May 12, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
I’ve had a palmetto bug party going on in my kitchen this spring. I got some large roach traps that seem to be working, but occasionally, I have to whack one with a rolled up newspaper. The whack covers up the crunch they make when you squish them. I really hate the way they stand on the counter and twitch their antennae at me….
By Grammaw
May 12, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
I keep an old pair of flip-flops (one upstairs, one down) for smashing those suckers. This will also cover up that “snap, crackle, pop” they make. Get a pair or two at the local dollar store. Guaranteed to disable a palmetto bug, and you don’t have to wear them later. (And they can be cleaned with the garden hose and re-used, again and again!)
By ahhh
May 12, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I will agree that ants, mosquitoes, chiggers and red bugs are a nusiance and definitely cockroaches are nasty. Just be careful not to harm your beneficial insects.
Lady Bugs eat aphids that destroy your flowering plants. Pray Mantis & dragon flies eat thousands of mosquitoes and other pests daily. Same with the granddaddy and garden spiders.
By tee hee
May 12, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Lived in south FL for a little while, never did get used to the size of the “bugs” there. Palmetto bugs that would fly and whack you in the head - scared the crap out of me. Huge grasshoppers too!! We have nothing on that scale here thank God!
By tee hee
May 12, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Lived in south FL for a little while, never did get used to the size of the “bugs” there. Palmetto bugs that would fly and whack you in the head - scared the crap out of me. Huge grasshoppers too!! We have nothing on that scale here thank God!
By CBL
May 12, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
I would like to see an episode of Man vs. Wild filmed here in Georgia. I’d put money on Bear Grylls eating a few live ones and other such undesireables on camera.
By jmb
May 12, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I live on the lake so oh boy am I familiar with these critters along with the million others. The store bought stuff only works for a few weeks so I use an exterminator that comes 2-3 times a year and it seems to tackle the job for us. Whatever she uses for the waterbugs even wipes out the spiders and at only $35 per trip I would say it’s money well spent.
By NParry
May 12, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Good old chili powder for those pesky ant/ant mounds or a splash of vinegar in corners will take care of most bugs. In addition, dry mixing a few drops of coconut oil with white vinegar and spray on spider-infested areas - they’ll never ever come back there (apparently the glycerides in coconut oil repel them). Vinegar also drives away deer.
By Fatimah Amir from Philly
May 12, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Palmetto Bugs, Water Bugs whatever you want to call them, they are roaches!!! I moved from Philly to New Orleans and they call them tree roaches down that way, and I noticed that people in Atlanta call them Palmetto Bugs, THEY ARE ROACHES, plain and simple. Ive been in Atlanta since last summer, and one night after I first moved in I woke up to hear something walking on my hardwood floor, only to turn on the light and see the BIGGEST roach I have ever seen in my life on my bedroom floor. I still cant believe that that bug was so big that I COULD HEAR IT WALKING!!!!!!! Bengal roach spray Ive found works wonders, but Im still petrified by those BIG A** ROACHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Squishallbugs
May 12, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
HATE the giant roaches (Palmetto bug is just a nice term). While taking a shower one day I spotted something out of the corner of my eye and it was one of those giant freakin’ roaches on the top of the shower door waving his creepy antenna at me…like it was watching me! And if one ever lands on me, you will see a bug dance like no other (I know you all have done the bug dance, don’t lie).
By Tom E.
May 18, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
I forgot to warn you about the roaches!
During our decade in Atlanta, my wife never got used to them. She had an exterminator come out quarterly to try to keep them out of the house. It worked pretty well.
We once had a roof leak around our chimney that resulted in a lot of damp wood. When the contractor came to fix it, he found a roach colony with more residents than Decatur.
If we had those suckers in Kentucky, we would saddle and race them. They’re that big, and that fast.
By Chris
May 30, 2008 2:26 AM | Link to this
Jamie,
Not sure if you’ve been warned about these yet—fire ants. They might not have had them where you’re from. Watch out for these little buggers! They will bite, and they go on attack in droves if you get too close to their mounds. Their bites sting really bad, too. If you have kids or pets, you especially have to keep them away from the fire ant mounds.
And another creepy bug that I’ve seen more than I’d like of—silverfish. Those things creep me out!
And the house centipedes, too. Ewwww!
Any bug that runs fast and doesn’t want to stay outside where it belongs gets a big spray of Windex…kills ‘em posthaste. The ammonia is what does it. But, if you have children or pets, be careful where you spray it, and wipe up the excess so it doesn’t get ingested by accident.