Are you scared of palmetto bugs? Are you tired of seeing palmetto bugs everywhere in your house? If the answer is YES, then you are in the right place. This article will be showing you “how to get rid of palmetto bugs in the house” with the easiest ways to do. But before going into five things you must know about this, let’s figure out what is a palmetto bug and what attracts it.
“What is a palmetto bug?” Palmetto bug is a kind of cockroaches, but its name is commonly used in the southern U.S. Therefore, it has the same features as a cockroach. When palmetto grows up, it has a large size and wings with dark brown coloration. So are palmetto bugs dangerous?
First, we have to find out what attracts palmetto bugs.
What will attract palmetto bug?
If you want to know how to get rid of palmetto bugs, you have to know what they like. There are three main things which attract palmetto bug the most: food, water, and shelter.
# Food
Just like us, the palmetto bug needs food to survive, but it does not prefer fresh food. It likes the food which is left out on the table, in the sink or the garbage. If your house is not clean, your dining table is dirty, or your bin is full of trash… There are probably many palmetto bugs getting into your place.
# Water
This kind of cockroach likes to live in humid and warm conditions. Therefore, the area which has leaked water or leaking pipes will attract it most. Wet towels, clothes and other stuff could also be the reason why cockroaches appear in your house.
# Shelter
“Where do palmetto bugs hide?” Commonly, they prefer the area which is clutter, messy, and disordering such as wardrobe, cupboard if you don’t usually clean them. They also live in cracks or crevices of your blocks, walls, structures.
As we have read about the features of this insect, I will be showing you how to get rid of palmetto bugs in the house.
How to get rid of palmetto bugs in the house?
# Use roach baits made from boric acid
It is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most efficient ways to get rid of palmetto bugs in your house. This chemical works well with this insect species because palmetto bugs have weak resistance against it. They will die when consuming or contacting with the liquids.
You can easily apply this method by creating a mix of boric acid, sugar, flour, and Crisco. Remember to use gloves to mix because it is chemical. Put it in the position that you see palmetto bugs frequently or in front of their entries.
Please also notice to keep out of children’s reach and area of your pets as this chemical is toxic. But don’t worry because I have this safer alternative method – food-grade diatomaceous earth.
# Use food-grade diatomaceous earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is the natural white powder the same as sand. It has the same effect as boric acid to kill palmetto bugs when they digest or contact with it.
How to get rid of palmetto bugs by this powder? Just spread a suitable amount around areas where they most appear. However, do not use too much because it is toxic and dangerous with a high amount.
# Set roach glue traps in suitable positions in the house
If you don’t want to use toxic chemical, then we suggest glue traps, which are easier and safer for your family. set glue traps in the places where you see palmetto bugs most such as kitchen, wardrobe, basement, garage, etc This method is easy to apply without any harm or danger.
# Block all the cracks and crevices in the house
As you may know, palmetto bugs come from cranks, holes and even hide into these places. Therefore, to prevent this insect from penetrating your house, you should block and seal all the areas from which they come.
Use cement to fill holes or cracks on the walls. Identify and fix leaking pipes. Giving bugs no place to hide or proliferate is one of the best ways to get rid of them.
# Spray pesticide carefully
If you ask me “how to get rid of palmetto bugs in the house” with the quickest way, I will show you this method.
One of the extreme and fastest ways to get rid of palmetto bugs in your house is to spray pesticide in places where they appear frequently. However, you should read the instruction carefully before using this “deadly weapon” because it kills roaches immediately, which means it is very toxic.
You don’t need to spray directly to the bugs when you see them. Just spray into an area which has many palmetto bugs such as holes, cracks, humid condition, or an entire room. If you want to spray into a room, make sure that you cover all clothes, food, beverage, dishes for eating,…for safety.
Palmetto bugs do not come to an area which has the smell of pesticide. Once they breathe this chemical, they will die immediately.
Conclusion
Following these tips, I guess you already have your way for the question “how to get rid of palmetto bugs in your house”. This roach is annoying, dirty, and may even cause disease. However, it is not difficult to kick them out of your home.
First, you have to know what they like, where they live, why they appear. After that, choose the method that is suitable for you and your family. But prevention is better than cure.