Whether you live in Tampa or one of the surrounding areas, there is a good chance that you’ve run across a palmetto bug. They are one of Tampa’s year round residents that can be found in a wide variety of places. Being longstanding exterminators in Florida, we are often asked questions about them. As such, we wanted to discuss the pesky palmetto bug in today’s blog post:
To begin with, palmetto bugs are members of the very large and diverse cockroach family. There are multiple species of cockroaches that call Florida home. Some of the bugs like to live indoors among human. Others prefer to stay outside until the air temperature drops. Species commonly found indoors and outside of buildings in Tampa are as follows:
- Brown-Banded
- Smoky Brown
- Turkestan
- American
- Oriental
- German
- Field
Of those species, there are three that tend to grow more than 1 inch in length. They are the Oriental, American and the Smoky Brown. Because of the roaches’ large size, it’s not uncommon for their very presence to cause Tampa resident’s arms to break out in goose bumps. The other palmetto bugs on our list tend to be 1 inch in length or smaller.
In general, all species of cockroaches found in Tampa prefer humid temperatures that are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s why people often spot them near indoor water sources once the cooler weather arrives. Once inside, the roaches will start to drop their egg cases and spread quickly. Depending on the species, a single female roach living in the Sunshine State can generate 30,000 offspring in as little as a year!
Signs that you have a palmetto bug infestation include the presence of egg cases, fecal matter and dead bugs. During the evening hours and periods of low light, you may also catch sight of live palmetto bugs running throughout the area as well.
Given how fast Tampa’s palmetto bug population can multiply, it’s best to call on a professional exterminator as soon as you see those signs. He or she can help remove the palmetto bugs as quickly as possible. To discuss this topic in more detail with one of our Consolidated Pest Control experts, please contact us at (813) 986-3341.
