Is it a cockroach? Perhaps it’s a palmetto bug? In fact, it’s actually both. Here in Florida, our species of cockroaches are known as palmetto bugs. There are more than 4,000 varieties of this common insect, but only the American, German, Asian, and Oriental species invade our homes and businesses in the Sunshine State.
They Really Are Different
Roaches all look the same when you’re chasing them across the kitchen floor with a can of bug spray. Still, our four most common Florida cockroaches are different in interesting ways.
1. The American Cockroach
This large, reddish-brown roach tops our list as one of the biggest home-invading insects. Adults are an inch and a half long and sport large wings. If you see a yellowish mark on the thorax, you’re looking at an American cockroach.
2. The German Cockroach
Blattella germanica, or the German cockroach, is the most common type of roach found in our homes and businesses. Light brown in color and measuring just over half an inch, the German cockroach wears two dark stripes lengthwise across its flat, oval body. Long antennae and spiny legs make the insect a master forager.
3. The Oriental Cockroach
If it looks almost black, it’s probably an Oriental cockroach. This dark reddish-brown pest commonly grows to over an inch in length, and it can outrun most other roaches. Still, these bugs have trouble climbing smooth surfaces because they don’t have typical cockroach sticky pads on their feet.
4. The Asian Cockroach
The Asian cockroach is very similar to the German roach in size and appearance. However, Asian roaches are very strong flyers, and they’re attracted to lights. If you’ve ever ducked a big dive-bombing bug out on the patio after dark, it was probably an Asian cockroach.
They Share Unhealthy Traits
Whether you call them cockroaches or palmetto bugs, the pests create an unhealthy atmosphere in your home. As they forage inside cabinets and scurry through air ducts, they spread bacterial debris loaded with disease-causing pathogens. The roaches you see are just a few of the thousands that nest behind walls and infest crawl spaces.
At McCall Service, We Know Them All
It’s part of our job to understand the differences between all kinds of insects. Our Florida pest control services are the best in the business because we match proven methods against specific bugs. It’s not always easy to notice the differences between roaches in your pantry, but luckily, you don’t have to. Just contact our teams here at McCall Service, and let us eliminate all your pest problems.
