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Megaloblatta, like many other insects, use stridulation in order to steer their predators away. The stridulating insects are less likely to be preyed upon in comparison to individuals of the species with an inability to stridulate.Megaloblatta is a genus of Neotropical cockroaches in the family Ectobiidae. Species in this genus are 4 to 9.7 cm (1.6–3.8 in) long and can have a wingspan of up to 20 cm (8 in); the world’s largest cockroach by length and wingspan is M. longipennis.The four Megaloblatta species have separate distributions: M. blaberoides ranges from southern Mexico, through Central America to Colombia and Ecuador; M. insignis is restricted to French Guiana and Suriname; M. longipennis is restricted to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (although sometimes reported from Panama, this is based on misidentifications of M. blaberoides); and M. regina is from Amazonian Ecuador and Brazil. Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable, affordable pest control companies that are well-equipped to kill German cockroaches. Terminix is a well-known nationwide pest control provider that can eliminate all varieties of cockroaches using baits, dusts, and aerosols. With 300 locations around the country that offer 24/7 customer support, Terminix is one of the most accessible options in pest control. Call 866-569-4035 or fill out this quick form to get a free estimate for the company’s services. As you go along, make sure you fix any leaks or drips that leave behind standing water. Seal cracks and crevices along windows, doors, and utility pipes with caulk or other sealants to prevent roaches from getting in. Switch to a trash can with a tight-fitting lid for food waste. Air out or dehumidify basements or crawl spaces to keep moisture from building.

If you prefer to use bleach or ammonia—though never at the same time—to clean hard surfaces, now’s the time to do it. Give your kitchen and bathrooms the deepest cleaning treatment, making sure to also double-check that all food sources are sealed. Additionally, roaches or their eggs may be carried inside on grocery items, grocery bags, luggage, packages, or handbags. Your best bet is to make your home as hostile and impenetrable to cockroaches as you can. Although many roach control methods are effective against most cockroach varieties, it’s always a good idea to confirm exactly what kind of insect you’re dealing with. You’ll also want to see if you can identify the hot spots in your home. German cockroaches don’t create a central nest or hive, but they will be more active around heat, water, and food sources.

German cockroaches can vary in color from light brown to tan, and they’re usually no more than 1.5 centimeters or 0.6 inches long. Since these insects are nocturnal and prefer to hide, the first signs you see may be droppings that look like coffee grinds, oval-shaped egg cases, or a musty smell. If you see live roaches during the day, it means the problem is already substantial.You can conduct an inspection by walking from room to room with a flashlight, looking in cracks and along baseboards for evidence of roach activity. Although you may not see live roaches during the daytime, you may see droppings, shed skins, or dead roaches. Look closely in kitchens and bathrooms, especially inside kitchen cabinets and behind appliances and furniture where roaches may hide.

Once you’re confident that you’ve eliminated the bulk of the infestation, it’s important to get rid of the conditions that made your home roach-friendly. When you’re getting rid of German cockroaches, you can’t be too clean.

As they crawl through sewers and other filthy places, they can pick up pathogens and allergens and then deposit them when they go searching for food in your kitchen. Additionally, some people are allergic to cockroaches’ exoskeletons, which crumble to powder after they shed.

There are a few extra preventative steps you can take, but you shouldn’t use repellent at the same time as bait. Once you’ve gotten rid of the cockroach infestation and cleaned your house thoroughly, repellent sprays and insect barriers applied around weak points in the home like windows and doors can help.

First, some good news: German cockroaches aren’t aggressive and don’t bite, nor are they venomous. However, they are dangerous because of the bacteria and other disease vectors they carry around and can leave behind.The idea here is to get rid of competing for food and water sources so the bait you lay for the cockroaches will be more enticing. However, don’t use any harsh or strong-smelling chemicals. Vacuum crumbs and debris, clear away clutter, package food in airtight containers, and wipe down surfaces with dish soap. Additionally, if you end up vacuuming any live roaches or eggs, make sure to seal and dispose of your vacuum bag or place it in the freezer for a few hours to kill anything living inside it.

If you can’t stomach the idea of such a close inspection, you can use sticky traps instead. Place these under sinks, in corners, behind appliances, and near trash cans. Although these will only catch and kill a few roaches and are ineffective against a larger infestation, they will give you a good idea of where roach activity is highest. Then, you’ll know the specific areas of your home to target in the next step.Reportedly, cockroaches dislike strong smells like cinnamon, peppermint, vinegar, coffee grounds, and some essential oils, though you’ll have to reapply these regularly to be effective. However, no chemical or natural substance is going to be as effective as properly sealing cracks to the outdoors.

We recommend this method over using sprays. Repellent sprays will only succeed in driving the roaches back into hiding, allowing them to continue to reproduce. Contact insecticides will only kill the roaches that you see or that step on the areas you spray, which won’t stop the problem at its source. In particular, don’t use sprays after laying down bait, since the roaches that take the bait need to survive long enough to spread it. Although sprays and bait are most common, there are other types of cockroach control that you can try if bait stations aren’t sufficient. Insecticide dust like diatomaceous earth, boric acid, or synthetic formulas can get into cracks and crevices that even gel bait can’t reach. However, if you’re still using bait, make sure not to apply the dust around the bait stations, as you’ll be working at cross-purposes. There are two main methods of chemical cockroach control: sprays and bait stations. Sprays either repel cockroaches or kill them on contact. Bait stations and gel baits lure cockroaches in with poisoned food and get them to take the bait back to their nests. Gel baits can be squeezed into smaller cracks where bait stations can’t fit. The slow-acting insecticide will allow the cockroaches to infect others, hopefully eliminating most or all of the roach infestation. However, while baking soda may kill a few cockroaches that eat it, this kind of bait is not nearly as effective as actual insecticide bait that can spread poison throughout the roach community. You’re welcome to try it, as it is harmless and inexpensive, but it’s also unlikely to make a significant dent in the problem. You also may need to make some adjustments to your cleaning schedule. For example, make sure you take care of dirty dishes as soon as possible and wipe down countertops to clean away food or beverage spills immediately. Clean out refrigerators regularly, and take the trash out whenever there’s food waste inside. Vacuum frequently to get rid of crumbs as well as any stray cockroach eggs. In general, try to keep clutter to a minimum, as this can give roaches more places to hide.

Additionally, a product called insect growth regulator (IGR) can actually stop roaches from reproducing. This substance is a liquid or aerosol foam that stops cockroach nymphs from shedding their exoskeletons and reaching reproductive maturity, breaking the breeding cycle. This is a slower-acting form of insecticide that works best in conjunction with bait.Unfortunately, German cockroaches can enter your home from nearly any opening. Although they can adapt to many environments, they can’t survive in severe cold, so they can only survive inside human dwellings in colder climates. Once inside, they can hide in cracks and crevices nearly too small for you to see.

German cockroaches are the perfect pests—they’re small, they reproduce rapidly, and they have few natural indoor predators. Additionally, their stomachs have adapted to be able to survive on a huge variety of food sources, and they’ve developed resistance to many common pesticides. The combination of all of these factors means a few adult cockroaches that find a home in a human dwelling can turn into a large, difficult-to-kill infestation in a short period.If you’ve followed the above steps and your home still isn’t roach-free, it’s time to call a professional exterminator. German cockroaches reproduce so rapidly and efficiently that it’s often difficult to kill them all without help. Fortunately, pest control professionals will have the training to find the sources of the infestation and the equipment and products to eliminate the problem. If the infestation is large and well-established, you’ll likely save time by calling an exterminator as your first step.

One of the smallest species of roaches, the German cockroach can be found nearly everywhere humans live, from the North Pole to southern Patagonia. Not only is it excellent at adapting to many climates and environments, but it’s also resistant to many common pesticides. A huge German cockroach infestation can result from just a few eggs, so it’s important to be thorough and consistent in treating these pests.Although roaches like a dirty, cluttered environment, the presence of German cockroaches isn’t necessarily a sign that your home is filthy. Roaches seeking warmth and food can get inside through even tiny cracks and then feed on crumbs or even non-food materials within your home.

On the other hand, the American cockroach and other palmetto bugs are most commonly found in the Southeastern United States. It is believed that American cockroaches are native to tropical climates of Africa and Florida wood cockroaches mainly belong to the Southeastern United States. This is also the place of their origination.Let’s start by knowing the origin of both types of roaches. According to scientists, German Cockroaches are native to North Africa (Ethiopia and Sudan) and are spread all over different parts of the world, including Europe and Southeast Asia.German roaches are almost an inch smaller than all species of palmetto bugs. Baby german roaches are approximately 1/4 inches long, but as soon as they grow bigger, adult german cockroaches can reach a size of a half-inch or 5/8 inch long.In the Southeastern United States, palmetto bug is sometimes the preferred term for a number of different roach species. This is because these roach species are often associated with palm leaves and other palm-like shrubs, as these bushes make for prime roach habitat. Of course, this means that roaches which don’t take up residence in these kinds of plants aren’t technically palmetto bugs. As we’ll see below, there are important differences between palmetto bugs and certain types of cockroaches.

It starts with taking preventive measures. Be sure to keep your kitchen clean: don’t leave food out overnight, and always wipe up crumbs. Cover food and store it properly. Don’t let trash accumulate in your kitchen, and reduce clutter as much as possible. If you can, it’s a good idea to seal up cracks and crevices around the outside of your home, as this will make it harder for roaches to invade.The two most common types of palmetto bugs in South Carolina are the American cockroach and the smoky brown cockroach. The American cockroach is particularly large. They can be identified by their wings, dark brown body, and dark markings which look like sunglasses. They also have the ability to fly, and will sometimes fly toward light sources.

The German cockroach lives primarily in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas where food is present. Unlike palmetto bugs, you don’t typically find them living outdoors in shrubbery or mulch piles. German cockroaches are also particularly prolific breeders: a single female German cockroach is capable of producing a colony of over 30,000 roaches within the span of a single year.

Meanwhile, the smoky brown cockroach is a bit smaller than the American cockroach. While they’re a similar dark brown color, they don’t have the same sort of markings. They do have wings, though, and are capable of flying. For effective roach control in South Carolina, it’s important to know what kind of roach you’re dealing with. But how do you know if the roach in question is a palmetto bug? If you think you might have a palmetto bug infestation in your home, it’s important to check in the right places. If you see a couple of bugs in your kitchen, you could actually be dealing with a much larger population elsewhere in your home. Check your basement, crawl space, and the area around the foundation of your home for signs of an infestation.

We offer comprehensive and environmentally safe pest control solutions. Please fill out the form below to schedule a service or for any other questions.Here in South Carolina, it’s common to hear people refer to roaches and palmetto bugs interchangeably. Some people use both terms, while others will swear that there’s a difference between the two.

Getting rid of roaches or palmetto bugs starts with correctly identifying the species in question. That’s one reason why it’s best to work with a professional roach control company here in South Carolina, rather than trying to take care of the problem on your own.As their name implies, palmetto bugs prefer dark, damp, and warm conditions. They’re often attracted to shrubbery, woodchips, mulch, wood piles, and sewers.

When it comes to your home, palmetto bugs are typically found in basements, crawlspaces, and drains. They’re attracted to food sources, which can include everything from kitchen crumbs and sticky kitchen surfaces to cardboard and book binding.Think you already have a roach infestation on your hands? If so, contact the professionals at Home Pest Control. We have the knowledge and experience needed to help you get rid of roaches and palmetto bugs. Plus, our pest control methods are safe for your family and the environment.

Each egg case, or ootheca, contains approximately 30 to 40 eggs. This egg case is then carried by the female until 1 to 2 days before hatching. Depending upon the conditions, the average time for development, from egg to adult can range from 54 to 215 days, with an average of approximately 100 days.German cockroaches are known for their ability to reproduce quickly. Females only need to mate once for the production of young. After mating, and under normal conditions, they will produce, on average, 4 to 6 egg cases during the course of their lives.

Although capable of living outdoors in tropical environments, German cockroaches are most commonly found indoors, with a preference for the warmer and more humid areas of a structure. In homes, these cockroaches will typically be found in kitchens and bathrooms, but can move to other areas of a home if food and moisture are available.Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage German cockroaches and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique cockroach treatment program for your situation.

Since German cockroach females carries their egg case until 1 to 2 days before depositing it, empty egg cases may be found in areas that the females frequent.Color: Adults are easily recognized by their light brown or tan coloration with two black horizontal stripes located on the pronotum immediately behind the head, The young, or nymphs, are darker, almost black in color, also with the black stripes behind the head.One of the most common sources of problems with German cockroaches are used items like furniture and luggage. Pre-owned electronics are also hiding places for the pests, which gravitate towards these warm devices. Additionally, areas where food debris is left around will fulfill the needs that the cockroaches have for food, water, and protection, such as near:German cockroaches are also known to secrete a number of odorous compounds. When populations are present in large numbers, it may be possible to detect a mild, or what some have reported as a “musty” odor.

German cockroaches spread filth in homes, contaminating food and utensils. Pathogens range from bacteria that causes food poisoning and dysentery to allergens that result in rashes and asthma attacks. Recent studies have also indicated that in larger metropolitan areas, the development of asthma in children can be directly linked to the presence of the pest.

German cockroaches are well-known indoor cockroaches with a distribution that is world-wide. Smaller than other types of cockroaches, the pests can hide in small spaces and hitch rides in bags, boxes, and many other infested items that are brought inside the home. In multi-unit apartment buildings, they can easily move between units, using the shared plumbing and pipes as a highway.These cockroaches lay 40 eggs at a time, which mature in about two months. Because they reproduce rapidly, infestations quickly become severe. German cockroaches are hardy and fast and have few natural predators inside human habitats. For these reasons, their populations tend to grow rapidly and can be hard to get rid of, often requiring professional treatment.

While German cockroaches are known as a pest of structures, found frequently in areas of high humidity and temperature, Asian cockroaches are most frequently found outdoors, and only occasionally make their way into structures. In addition, Asian cockroaches are known for their ability to fly, whereas German cockroaches rarely use their wings for flight and prefer to run from danger.

Homeowners avoid cockroach problems with regular cleaning. Vacuuming up crumbs, sanitizing sinks, and wiping counters can go a long way towards prevention. However, if faced with either German cockroaches or American cockroaches, the best course of action is to call Orkin for removal.Cockroach body fluids also produce a faint odor. If a large number of the pests are present, the smell can become overwhelming. As they feed, they also contaminate pantry items and potentially pass diseases to humans.

Location: Although both pests prefer warmth and moisture, German cockroaches generally gather in kitchens and bathrooms, while American cockroaches are likely to be found in basements, crawl spaces and around or inside drains.Size: The biggest home-invading species, American cockroaches measure about 1 ½ – 2 inches in length. German cockroaches tend to be much smaller at about half an inch long.

The first step towards controlling pest problems is being able to identify the pest. Several factors can help homeowners distinguish between German cockroach vs. American cockroaches infestations:Appearance: German cockroaches are tan with dark, parallel lines running from their heads to the ends of their wings. On the other hand, the American cockroach is reddish-brown with a thorax edged in faded yellow. The nymphs are grey-brown at first but become more reddish-brown with each molt. These large cockroaches are the largest you will find in the United States. Palmetto bugs are more likely to enter a house during the fall when they are looking for a good place to spend the winter or the spring when they are looking for food. However, once there, the house is climate controlled, so the palmetto bug stays active all year. If there is a lack of moisture outside, palmetto bugs may enter the house seeking water.

Mint oil has been shown to repel palmetto bugs. It does not kill them and is not a substitute for other pest control methods but can help keep palmetto bugs from infesting a structure. It can be one part of the precautions you take to keep your house safe from palmetto bugs.

The American cockroach female lays sixteen eggs at a time in a purse-shaped case called an ootheca. The ootheca is brown when laid but turns black in a day or two.

Eric is now retired, but is still a renowned gardener known for his expertise in composting, organic gardening and pest control, utilizing pesticide-free options, such as beneficial insects. A palmetto bug is a common name used to describe various different types of cockroaches. Read on to learn everything you could ever want to know about them (including how to stop them before they take over your home). Because the bugs wedge themselves in such tight cracks, palmetto bugs are often safe from bug bombs. Since these products can be hazardous to you, your family, and your pets, they are not recommended.The adult American cockroach grows to be 1 1/2 – 2 inches long. It is reddish-brown and has shiny wings. It can fly, although it usually glides down from higher surfaces to lower surfaces.Palmetto bugs live everywhere there are humans. The Florida wood cockroach lives in Florida and the parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi that touch Florida. Smoky brown cockroaches came to the United States from Cuba and entered Florida. Now they live anywhere it is hot and humid with mild winters, including most of the southeastern United States. The American cockroach originated in Africa but has spread all over the world on ships and then as stowaways on the wares merchants sell.

Cockroach feces, urine, eggshells, and shed skins become dust and cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks, especially in children. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, children who have asthma and are exposed to palmetto bugs are hospitalized with asthma attacks more often than children who are not exposed to palmetto bugs.

You can purchase bait stations baited with boric acid. These should be placed where palmetto bugs congregate and where there are smear marks. Again, these should be placed where pets and children cannot reach them.Later nymph stages have yellow lines on the thorax. Smoky brown cockroaches lay about 10-14 eggs at a time. The nymph is black during its first instar (time between molts), then brown in the next one. The nymphs are increasingly reddish-brown as they pass through 9-12 instars.

They are both cockroach species, but the German cockroach is 1/2 – 5/8 inches long. The German cockroach is brown to dark brown in color with two pale strips along its thorax. The palmetto bug is among the largest of the cockroaches, while the German cockroach is among the smallest ones.

Water leaks attract palmetto bugs because they need to drink water each day to stay hydrated. Broken sewer pipes not only give them access to water but also food.

Yes, they can. Palmetto bugs only bite if there is a heavy infestation and there is not enough food to go around. They may also eat food residue off of the faces of sleeping humans.Palmetto bugs frequently live in palmetto trees, a tropical plant that grows in the southeastern United States, including Florida and South Carolina. The palmetto bug also lives in other places where there is moisture and the rotting vegetation and wood they feed on.Palmetto bugs are hard to catch. These pests run fast for their size, up to 3 miles an hour, and can squeeze into cracks the width of a credit card. It is also hard to sneak up on a palmetto bug because they are very sensitive to vibrations. When you walk, they feel the vibrations you make and flee.These roaches range from dark mahogany to black. The smoky brown cockroach grows to be 1 1/2 inches long. It is, as the name suggests, smoky brown. The smoky brown cockroach is a strong flyer.

While cockroaches are beneficial insects outside that provide food for animals and break down decaying wood, they are a pest inside the home that can spread salmonella and contaminate your home with pathogens and bacteria.

Florida wood cockroaches develop from egg to adult in about 150 days. The nymphs go through an average of seven molts before becoming a dark mahogany adult.Palmetto bugs live around houses and other buildings in leaf litter, in the base of palmetto trees, and in the fan-like leaves, under logs and other decaying plant material, shingles, and other warm and humid areas. They may also infest tree holes.Smoky brown cockroaches secrete fluid from a gland on their abdomen when they are afraid. The cockroach can squirt the fluid up to three feet away. Because of this, the other nickname for this bug is “stinking cockroach”.Palmetto bugs can serve as an intermediate host for parasites that infect dogs and humans. These include whipworms, the giant human roundworm, pinworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. These are shed in their feces and can then infect the dogs and people in the house. Exclusion keeps palmetto bugs from getting in the house in the first place. These tips will also help you keep other pests from entering your home. Remember that a palmetto bug can crawl through a space the width of your credit card. When inside, these pests like to stay in warm, humid areas of the house, usually around the hot water heater, bathroom, and basement. Instead of tree holes, they live in cracks around kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, electrical plugs, and other places around the house. Water leaks, improper food storage, food spills, pet food, and trash give them food and water inside. Clutter gives them places to hide during the day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, palmetto bugs spread these diseases when walking over food preparation areas and utensils. They contaminate food by walking on it, urinating on it, and defecating on it.Mix 1 part borax with 1 part powdered sugar and spread it in places the palmetto bugs hide, such as under the sink, behind appliances, and around the hot water heater. Yes, as mentioned above, palmetto bugs carry a number of serious diseases. They spend time in sewers and then walk across your food, defecating and urinating on what they do not eat. In addition, they track bacteria across the counters you prepare your food on and the utensils you use when cooking. The eggs hatch in 50-55 days at room temperature. The nymphs, or baby palmetto bugs, go through 10-14 instars or periods of growing between molts, over 400-600 days before becoming adults.It is much easier to prevent palmetto bugs from coming into your house than to treat an infestation of these pests. The best way to prevent these bugs from entering your house is to practice sanitation and exclusion.

There is no data to claim any one state the palmetto bug capital of the country. In general, the southern states have the most cockroaches, along with California.

Strictly speaking, palmetto bugs do not make nests. They lay their eggs in egg cases and glue them close to food supplies. However, Palmetto bugs congregate in large numbers in dark, warm, humid areas. In houses, that is often the basement, bathroom, or near the hot water heater. Both American and smoky cockroaches live in sewers and septic tanks. They pick up dangerous diseases such as salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, listeriosis, giardia, and E. coli infection. The Florida woods cockroach eats dead and decaying plant matter, lichens, mosses, molds, and soil microbes. The smokybrown cockroach eats dead and decaying plant matter.

Your likely reaction is a mixture of panic, disgust, and frantically finding a way to get rid of the pest. However, if you have experience with both palmetto bugs and cockroaches, you might know there’s a difference in how you take care of some intruders as opposed to others.Palmetto bugs are typically dark brown and primarily found in southeast and southwest portions of the United States. Palmetto bugs are typically searching for warm, damp climates, which is why they will wander into your home. They often emit a foul spray, and thus, they have been called the Florida Stinkroach, Florida Skunkroach, and many other appealing nicknames. In Arizona, they’re commonly referred to as American Roaches.

2) Palmetto Bugs have wings and thus are able to fly. It is never a fun time to walk in your door and have a larger-than-average palmetto bug fly in your face.Ultimately, when living in a climate that sustains palmetto bugs and other roaches, they’ll be interested in the food, water, and shelter that your house provides. We recommend developing a relationship with a professional pest control service to conduct regularly scheduled maintenance. The money you spend will go towards preventing all pests and will bring you and your family greater peace of mind and health.4) Palmetto Bugs contaminate food and carry diseases such as salmonella due to their nesting and dietary habits. While most cockroaches are not great for your health as well, there are some breeds that are innocuous. This is another unfortunate but important reminder that palmetto bugs are not your typical cockroach.

5) Palmetto bugs have unique coloring and markings in that they are a dark reddish-brown color and often have the ‘sunglasses’ pattern at the top of their thorax. By knowing their appearance, you’ll be able to identify and communicate this particular pest clearly to your local pest control technician, who will then know exactly how to solve your infestation problem.Once more, while palmetto bugs are a type of cockroach, knowing this variant and their different nesting/breeding habits and destructive patterns can be important in identifying an infestation. From there, you need to take measures to remove the palmetto bugs and prevent them from returning.3) Palmetto Bugs smell musky, which is a distinct identifier of their presence if you’ve encountered them before. We hope you’re not familiar with this smell, but it comes from nesting in the damp areas of your home – beneath woodpiles, floorboards, or walls.

At Insectek Pest Solutions, we’re dedicated to keeping your home safe from all pests, bugs, and unwanted intruders. We have experienced technicians who can identify the different signs of potential infestations and treat them before they become debilitating to your home. 1) Palmetto Bugs are larger than other cockroach variants, such as Smoky Brown Cockroaches. This also makes them a more daunting intruder to deal with, especially alongside some of their other features. A palmetto bug is a slightly more glamorous name for cockroaches. Cockroaches are a species of pests that are part of the Blattodea, and are also called palmetto bugs. There are over 4000 known species of cockroaches, worldwide, seventy of which can be found in the United States. Many types of palmetto bug can live both indoors and outdoors.American roaches (whatever the type) tend to be fearful of larger species, and will avoid humans if possible. There are also certain aromas that repel roaches, such as citronella, lavender, vinegar, and peppermint.

In our experience, palmetto bugs are always in groups. This means if you find just one, this often will mean that the entire colony is near by. These groups can mean hundreds of palmetto bugs, so you need to act quickly!

No, palmetto bugs are not fatal to humans. Their bites are itchy and annoying, not unlike fleas when they bite. A roach bite does not contain venom or poison. They are merely a pest.

Palmetto bugs and cockroaches are the same thing, palmetto bug is simply a regional term for cockroaches that live indoors and outdoors. Generally when someone says palmetto bug they are referring to an American cockroach, but some people use palmetto bug as another term for any cockroach.