American Cockroach or Palmetto Bug

The American cockroach and sometimes called the Palmetto bug, water bug  or the flying bug, they can live approximately a year to a year and a half. It is reddish-brown, with a pale brown or yellow border on the upper surface of the pronotum. They can get up to 1-2 inches in size. There are contest for the largest American cockroach.They can survive one month without access to water and go 2-3 months without eating.

American cock roach egg capsules 

An adult female will produce between six and 14 egg cases.  She will produce an average of 150 young in her lifetime. They will usually plant their egg capsules in cracks and corners. The American cockroach adults and young nymphs in all stages of growth have similar appearances.



They usually prefer the dark moist areas like basements, bathtubs, floor drains and sewers. They more commonly congregate in open spaces instead of small crack and crevices. I remember Picking up a towel on a washing machine in a customer’s house and about 10 roaches ran out.

American cock roach food


American cockroaches feed on a variety of foods, but decaying organic matter seems to be preferred. They also feed upon book bindings, manuscripts, clothing and glossy paper with starch sizing. Adults are attracted to light. Adults and nymphs can be found in a variety of places.  Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity can increase or decrease the developmental time of the American cockroach.

American cockroaches, thought to have originated in Africa, Have actively co-habit with humans and adapted their behavior accordingly. The control of The American cockroach depends on using certain baits and outside granular treatments. As it is with the German roach, follow up is always a key factor in the exterminating of American cock roach.

Most Exterminating company will give you a free inspection and a free estimate for pest control of any cockroach. There is always the do it your self stores who can recommend the baits, chemicals or traps to use when trying to eliminate the American cock roach. 

Cock Roach Control

First off there is no set way to do cockroach control with out knowing what kind of roach your dealing with. Roaches have different habitats and eating habits, knowing this would be the only way you can treat properly. Most people just say cockroach or palmetto bug in the southern regions of the US

Here is a list of some of the most common cockroaches

• American cockroach
• Australian cockroach
• Brown banded cockroach
• German cockroach

Cockroach control is best started by practicing good housekeeping and using insecticides when necessary, but using insecticides is not always necessary. If the infestation is very small then you could use glue traps or bait. Cockroach control is a simple exercise of common sense and consistency. Take the fight to them and make sure to take no prisoners.

Cockroach control is ordinarily accomplished by "spot treatment" of the dark and hidden places normally frequented by cockroaches during daylight hours

Sometimes the surviving insects in these areas may learn to avoid the treated areas and seek harborage elsewhere in the building.

If you notice an outbreak of cockroaches you should do one of two things right away.

Begin treatment right away if you have the knowledge and tools or call an exterminator and let him start exterminating for you.

Store food in roach tight containers and avoid spilling it, clean the countertops and other areas where food is often. Sweep around table and areas where kids eat and play. Pick up any old rags or cardboard that has been laying around.

Cockroach control requires you to know that adult females produce small, bean-shaped egg capsules. The female usually drops the egg capsules or glues them to some surface soon after they are formed. Adults generally are about 1 inch long, brown to dark chocolate brown, the Australian cockroach has narrow tan line running along the outside edges of the wings and the area behind the head

Adults live an average of 20 weeks. The German cockroach has the shortest life cycle of house-infesting roaches (from egg to egg in three to six weeks).

I am going to repeat this. Like any other pest, such as ants, fleas, bedbugs and termites cockroach control takes patience and most important is the follow up.