Comments on: A Palmetto Bug Comes Calling

By: Roberta

Roberta — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:29:14 +0000

Palmettos are the absolute worst enemy I have…Gigantic one on fromt of my china cabinet the other day…my dad was visiting, so I handed him a frying pan and said ‘go for it’….He must have wounded it, because I waited for my husband to come home to find it and kill it. He did…thank goodness…I too, am ALWAYS looking everywhere I go for them…in my own house….ugh! I’m always afraid of finding one in the house…WHY DO THEY COME IN?

By: Ukebeauty

Ukebeauty — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:05:02 +0000

Palmetto bugs “visit” my apartment every August when it’s humid. They are scary. The best way to lure a Palmetto is to leave the lights on and get ready to spray it to death. I used a common blue window cleaner. It slowed the creature down a bit. They’re fast, so be ready to hit hard . I recommend a flat shoe or slipper. Spray a bit of somethings on it, so that the shoe makes direct contact with the bug. Press hard for a few seconds to assure death. Scoop it up and throw it out the window. Not in the toilet or garbage can. I still can’t figure out where my personal Palmettos are coming from. I’ve taken all necessary precautions. Time will tell.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:02:03 +0000

Can anyone “HELP” ??? I live in central Florida and spend alot of time in my “screen enclosed” pattio area which surroumds the pool. I’ve been receiving frequent visits from HUGE palmetto bugs that seem to enjoy coming out to stare at me, as (I’m quite sure) they are planning their attack. I never stick around long enough to confirm this, though, and have scared my little chihuahuas half to death as I run into the house screaming in terror.
I just discovered your web-site while searching the internet for info on how to get rid of these horrid things. Does anyone out there have a good method to eradicate these Palmetto bugs (or any method at all) that they could share with me? Sure hope so!!!
I will be sitting on the edge of my seat, anxiously awaiting a reply. THANKS!
Lori B.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:08:12 +0000

I’m in NC and we have an abundance of palmetto bugs…on occasion. Don’t see any for months, and all of a sudden, they’re back. They generally calm down after a few weeks. Go outside on any Spring or Summer night and the dang things are scurrying round everywhere. I just wish they’d stay outside and not come visit inside the house. They are extremely hard to kill, (just beat one with a broom or shoe and see…) and, they’re as swift as the wind. They seem to know exactly what you intend…(such as murdering one of them), which creeps me out no end. Ive even gone so far as to flip a sofa upside down at 3am trying to find one of those beast! One fine day, as I sat at the pc, I kept feeling a tickle in my hair. I reached up to take a swipe at my hair and a giant palmetto attached himself to my hand. Needless to say, I went ballistic, and I’m talking heavy artillery! Took me several weeks to retrieve my sanity. And forget switching on the lights to keep them at bay—I’m fairly certain they love the light and much as darkness.
Luckily, we have cats and dogs inside, and they usually manage to spot a bug before I do.

By: Jude

Jude — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:03:37 +0000

i Just came home from Miami, had my first ever, encounter with a Palmetto bug, I saw 2 in my room but I’m sure there were more. Made sure I laundered everything at a local laundramat and won’t bring the suitcases in the house. I was wondering why people returned regularly to this obvious roach hotel, but I guess these pests are all to common, who knew. My family was really cool in and knew the whole experience was very disturbing to me. Just wanted to relax and enjoy myself a little. I could not adapt to living with those freaks of nature. I hate bugs!

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:51:04 +0000

Those things can be downright mean. Plus, they’re great swimmers. When I would swim in high school and one got in the pool, they’ll agressively go after you, and they take a while to get rid of.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:49:49 +0000

“Okay” in the following context indicates I can deal with them humanely, not that I like them! Snakes and lizards – okay; rats or mice – okay (but only one at a time; infestations call for severe measures, although a poisoned/dead rat that can’t be immediately found is really nasty-smelling); spiders – okay (I do thwap ‘em); cockroaches (small – step on ‘em, big [we call 'em waterbugs] – dump a telephone book on ‘em); crickets (okay – I try to remember they are good luck in some cultures); ants – no, no, no, no! Nasty, nasty, nasty.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:32:03 +0000

Just getting used to “Palmetto Bugs” myself after moving to South Carolina. I had three different occasions last summer, and asked a neighbour about it. He told me if I have only had three I am lucky, and welcomed me to the south and it’s bugs. I make sure I keep the door closed a lot more now when my dog is going in and out.

By: Ali

Ali — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:45:18 +0000

I once woke abruptly at four in the morning because a similar sized Palmetto Bug was crawling across my collar bone. I didn’t know this until I grabbed at the tickle, felt something in my fingers, and instinctively flung it across the room. Then I had to turn on all the lights and pick everything off the floor so I could find and kill it, because there was no way in hell I was going to try and fall asleep again knowing the thing was roaming.

However, like you say, it’s just a bug. And it seems your emotional state is less about the bug itself (despite the fact that they’re plenty disturbing all on their own) and more about all of your other anxieties finding a handy symbol. You’re in a tough spot right now.

The crux of it is, though, you can’t really be brave if you’re not scared first.

By: upset waitress

upset waitress — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:07:08 +0000

Floridian slang for a cockroach haha.