As an insect learner, you may ask, what is the basic difference between a palmetto bug and a cockroach? I will clarify the difference between palmetto bugs and cockroaches with pictures in this article.
Quick answer: the cockroach originating in tropical Africa and North America is known as the palmetto bug. There are no other significant differences between the palmetto bugs and cockroaches.
But, you will find a little difference in the external anatomy of the palmetto bugs from German cockroaches and Asian cockroaches. I will share some common facts about the palmetto bugs with their external identification features.
So, let’s know what a palmetto bug is and how you will differentiate it from other cockroach species.
Palmetto bug vs cockroach
Different cockroach species are also known as water bugs, croton bugs, and palmetto bugs. Especially the cockroaches that come from North America and also from tropical Africa are also known as the palmetto bugs.
For example, the American cockroach is also called the palmetto bug. Though the American cockroach or palmetto bug originated in North America, you will find them around the globe now.
First, let’s see the identifying features of the palmetto bug or American cockroach. You will find the below-mentioned external features in the palmetto bug or American cockroach –
- Color of the palmetto bug – reddish brown,
- Length of the palmetto bug or American cockroach – 1.5 inches or 38 millimeters,
- They have 2 pairs of wings like the other cockroach species (but most of them are incapable of flight),
- Body of the palmetto bug or American cockroach – shiny,
- These palmetto bugs have yellow margins behind the head,
- At the tip of the abdomen of this bug, you will see pair of cerci,
The external anatomical features of both male and female palmetto bugs are almost similar. But, the male palmetto bug has a pair of styli between cerci. You will not find any styli in the female palmetto bugs or American cockroaches.
Interesting facts about palmetto bugs
You have already got the external features of the palmetto bugs and identified them from other different cockroach species. The most interesting facts or behavior of the palmetto bugs is –
They are considered the quick fast larger insect among cockroaches,
Different entomologists stated that the palmetto bugs might run at 4 – 5 mph speeds. Now, let’s see the overview of the palmetto bugs from table 1 –
| Palmetto bugs name | American cockroach |
| Other name | Water bugs |
| Origin | North America |
| Body length | 1.5 – 2 inches |
| Body color | Reddish brown |
| Wings | Yes, 2 pairs |
| Tip of the abdomen possess | Pair of cerci |
| Light yellow band | Around the head |
| Nymph of palmetto | Grayish brown |
| Egg capsule | Dark brown |
| Length of egg capsule | 0.3 inch |
| Female produce | 15 – 80 egg capsules |
| Reproductive cycle | 12 – 19 months |
Palmetto bug vs water bug vs American cockroach
You may find these terms palmetto bug vs water bug or palmetto bug vs American cockroach. But, there is no significant difference among these terms.
The American cockroach, also known as the water bug or palmetto bug, has three developmental phages – egg, nymph, and older. Here, the female American cockroach produces 15 – 80 egg capsules, where you will find 12 – 15 eggs each.
The egg capsules of an American cockroach or water bug are dark brown and symmetrical in shape. Again, the average length of these egg capsules of the water bug is about 0.3 inches.
Typically the female American cockroach or palmetto bug drops her egg capsule within a day after it is formed. They keep their egg capsules near the water and food sources.
But, you may also find these egg capsules of the water bug in the moist wood, crack, and tree. Glue-like secretion comes from the mouth of the female American cockroach and helps to attach their egg capsule to wood or tree.
Nymph of the palmetto bug
The nymph of the palmetto bug is shiny and reddish brown like the older cockroach. You will also find the yellow band around the edge of the head and back of the nymph.
But, the wing of the palmetto bug’s nymph is not well-developed. The majority of the eggs of a palmetto bug become nymph after 60 – 70 days.
But, the overall reproductive period for the palmetto bug or American cockroach is 12 – 19 months. You may also find the specific external features of the nymph or baby American cockroach or palmetto bugs from the below-mentioned article –
From that article, you will also know the external features of the other different cockroaches.
Do palmetto bugs fly?
Some flying cockroach species can fly for a short time and distance. Here, you will find well-developed wings in male and female American cockroaches (palmetto bugs) that seldom fly.
This is because –
- These palmetto bugs are the larger common species that have a 1.5 – 2 inches length,
- Again, the paired wings of the palmetto bugs have a sclerotic structure,
These are two main causes for the palmetto bugs not to fly. You may also know more about the flying of cockroaches from the below-mentioned article –
Palmetto bugs in the house
Sometimes you may find palmetto bugs or water bugs in your house. But, these palmetto bugs do not typically stay in the home.
Most of these bugs are found in commercial and industrial places. In the damp environment of the industries, warm basements, and storage rooms, you may find these water bugs or American cockroaches.
These palmetto bugs also love to remain in the sewers and the heat tunnels of the commercial and industrial placements. Again, you may also find them in garbage disposals, kitchens, bathrooms, and indoor storage.
The American palmetto bugs love to eat a great variety of food. They like to take cheese, leather, bakery products, manuscripts, plant materials, clothes, etc.
What attracts palmetto bugs?
You know the palmetto bugs and other cockroaches produce odorous secretions that affect the flavor of different foods. If there are more palmetto bugs in a specific region, you may easily identify them.
These more bugs will produce more odorous secretion. Various disease-producing organisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa may attract the palmetto bugs.
Again, various gastrointestinal diseases like diarrhea and food poisoning may also transfer through the cockroach. So, the disease-producing organism attaches to the leg of the palmetto bug.
The excrement and cast skins of palmetto bugs are also dangerous for humans. These materials from the palmetto bugs contain several allergens. Thus, they can produce skin rashes, nasal congestion, asthma, and sneezing.
Difference between the palmetto bug and the German cockroach
There are significant differences between the palmetto bug and the German cockroach. Here, I will show you the basic difference between these two cockroach species so that you can quickly differentiate them.
First, let’s know some of the common external features of the German cockroach –
- The German cockroach is smaller than the palmetto bugs (average length is 0.5 – 0.75 inch),
- They are light brown and have two longitudinal dark lines on their back or thorax,
- The male and female German cockroaches possess longer wings (long as the body length) compared to the palmetto cockroach’s wings,
- They love to stay in the kitchen, bathroom, and other various locations where the moisture and warm are available,
- The German cockroaches become active at night and search for food and water,
You may find some other cockroaches that look like German cockroaches. Typically, the field and brown-banded cockroaches are externally almost similar to those of the German cockroaches.
You may know more about the field and brown-banded cockroaches from other different articles on insect pets.
Now, let’s see the main difference between these palmetto bugs and German cockroaches from table 2 –
| Features | Palmetto bugs | German cockroach |
| Body length | 1.5 – 2 inches | 0.5 – 0.75 inch |
| Color | Dark brown | Light brown |
| Wings | 2 pairs | Longer |
| Light yellow band | Around head | Absent |
| Vertical dark lines | Absent | Present in thorax |
| Nymph | Dark brown body, Larger, Wingless, | Smaller, Wingless, Have a pale stripe, Darker brown body |
Frequently asked questions on palmetto bugs
Here, you will find the common questions on the palmetto bugs that the insect learners ask. Some other cockroaches look like the palmetto bugs or American cockroaches.
A wood cockroach is one species that looks like the palmetto bug or American cockroach. But, you may also differentiate the palmetto bugs from the wood cockroaches by their external anatomical facts.
Okay, let’s see the frequently asked questions on the palmetto bugs –
Can palmetto bugs infest your house?
Typically, the palmetto bugs don’t like to stay in the house. So they don’t infect your house.
But, if they, unfortunately, remain in your house and produce odorous secretions, there may be an infestation in your house. With some control measures, you may easily control the palmetto bugs infestation in your house.
How do I get rid of palmetto bugs?
You may get rid of the palmetto bugs with non-chemical and chemical treatments. The prevention methods are the first line of defense when dealing with palmetto bugs.
The non-chemical prevention of the palmetto bugs includes – exclusion, sanitation, and monitoring of the habitant. On the other hand, you will find a details guide on the chemical treatment of the palmetto bugs in another article on insect pets.
Are palmetto bugs harmful?
Yes, palmetto bugs harm people as they are the source of different diseases. You know the disease-producing organisms attach the legs and mouth of the palmetto bugs.
And then these diseases may transmit through their legs and mouth to different materials and finally to the people. Again, the excrement and the cast skin of the palmetto bugs are very harmful to people as they cause skin rashes and different respiratory problems.
Does one palmetto bug mean an infestation?
No, one palmetto bug doesn’t mean an infestation. The infestation may occur if numerous palmetto bugs produce more odorous secretion.
What are the size of the palmetto bug and German cockroach?
The size of the palmetto bug is about 1.5 – 2 inches, whereas the German cockroach is 0.5 – 0.75 inches. So, the palmetto bug, or American cockroach, is larger than the German cockroach.
Conclusion
So, another name for the palmetto bug is the American cockroach or water bug. The external anatomical facts of the palmetto bugs are similar to the ideal cockroach.
The body color of the palmetto bug is reddish brown and has a light yellow band around its head. You will find a little but significant difference between the palmetto bug and the German cockroach.
