Pest Control
Palmetto Bugs vs. German Roaches: Which One Is in Your House?
Two very different roaches
Palmetto bug is the polite South Carolina name for the American and smoky brown cockroach. They are large, reddish-brown, fly, and come inside from mulch, crawlspaces and attics. German cockroaches are small, tan with two dark stripes, and live and breed entirely indoors, usually in kitchens and bathrooms.
Why it matters
A palmetto bug problem is an exterior problem. Perimeter treatment, crawlspace treatment and sealing gaps fixes it. A German roach problem is an infestation. One female produces up to 40 eggs at a time and the population can explode in weeks. It requires baits, growth regulators and follow-up.
Why store-bought sprays make it worse
Repellent sprays scatter German roaches deeper into walls and cabinets, where they keep breeding. Bait is the opposite: roaches eat it, return to the harborage and poison the colony. That is why a professional cockroach exterminator reaches for gel bait first.
What professional roach control includes
Inspection to confirm species and harborage, gel baits and growth regulators indoors, crack-and-crevice treatment, exterior perimeter treatment and sealing of entry points. Most homes are clear within two to three weeks. Ongoing residential pest control keeps them out. Call (833) 659-0727 for roach control anywhere in South Carolina.