Palmetto bugs....bad in Florida?

[JanetRose]

I was thinking about retiring in Florida but those bugs may cause me to change my mind.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was thinking about retiring in Florida but those bugs may cause me to change my mind.

Yes, they are card carrying Florida residents.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I've lived here since 2008 I had one in my house ONCE every month I go to Dollar General Marketplace buy Hot Shot brand roach bait ( safer than spraying I have animals) and that's it

They are not keeping me from living here Beautiful State insects are anywhere you want to live, just have to plan & manage C'Mon Down

 

[dyna]

I think it depends on where you live. When I lived near a bunch of big old trees I had many more Palmetto bugs than I do now where there are few trees.

FROGS can be a bit of a problem here tho I have no idea WHY. Most every day when I go out to swim I have at least 1 dead in my frog pond aka swimming pool. The frogs get in my house, seem to sit an wait for door to open so they can come in lol. They have even jumped on me an hitch hiked their way in lol. I throw a towel over them pick them up in the towel an release them back outside.

OHHHHHH an the noise at night can be deafing if you don't like frogs, they really don't bother me I tend to like frogs.

 

[Zandy595]

Every once in a while I will see a dead one in the garage or on the driveway, but not in the house. However, we have an exterminator come every other month to treat around the outside of the house.

 

[GaBelle]

They can be a problem, but if you take steps to keep them away you will be fine. Don't leave food out, keep a clean kitchen, hire a good exterminator.

In my early 20s, I dated a guy that lived in Florida. He lived like a young man typically does: messy. Well during a visit, I apparently left my purse unzipped at the top and when I was leaving and picked up my handbag (I'm cringing as I write this) what seemed to be dozens of palmetto bugs scurried out of my purse!
After that, I didn't visit him at his apartment anymore.

 

[Art 1]

I wonder how the bugs in Fla. are bad thing ever got started. Maybe years ago. Yes, they are very bad, you might want to re-think moving here.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I wonder how the bugs in Fla. are bad thing ever got started. Maybe years ago. Yes, they are very bad, you might want to re-think moving here.

Yeah. I've seen more bugs here in NY than I did in FL.

There are CENTIPEDES here! I'll take the Palmettos.

 

[FLCyndi]

I wonder how the bugs in Fla. are bad thing ever got started. Maybe years ago. Yes, they are very bad, you might want to re-think moving here.

This?

 

[Hisgirl]

They can be a problem, but if you take steps to keep them away you will be fine. Don't leave food out, keep a clean kitchen, hire a good exterminator.

In my early 20s, I dated a guy that lived in Florida. He lived like a young man typically does: messy. Well during a visit, I apparently left my purse unzipped at the top and when I was leaving and picked up my handbag (I'm cringing as I write this) what seemed to be dozens of palmetto bugs scurried out of my purse!
After that, I didn't visit him at his apartment anymore.

Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!!!!!!!

That is just about the most awful horrible bug story I have ever heard! And just THINK! They were in every nook and cranny of that boy's STUFF! If you had married him...he would have moved his entire BUG ZOO into a home with you! Lord help mercy!!

 

[mhsjax]

Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!!!!!!!

That is just about the most awful horrible bug story I have ever heard! And just THINK! They were in every nook and cranny of that boy's STUFF! If you had married him...he would have moved his entire BUG ZOO into a home with you! Lord help mercy!!

As disgusting as this subject is, if dozens crawled out, those are german **** roaches and they are caused by dirt and filth. YOu really don't see dozens of these in a home.

Palmetto bugs really can't survive indoors. Sure they will look and eat food and they love damp wet areas, but they aren't drawn to dirt and nastiness like german's are. Those are the little ones that you see in the "hoarding" shows and and really dirty homes.

Palmetto bugs are the HUGE flying roaches that love to come out at night.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I've only seen a palmetto bug actually fly once.. there's a common misconception that palmetto bugs are a breed- they're actually just American cockroaches, which can be found everywhere.

Over the years, we've had roaches, spiders, lizards, geckos, frogs and snakes get in the house. This summer I probably caught a gecko inside every day! But I don't think it's a reason to not live here. It's a sub-tropical climate, which has its perks and downsides.

 

[Feralpeg]

Unless you leave your doors open, they really aren't a problem. I've lived in Florida for nine years. I've only had a couple get in the house.

 

[denisem]

We've been down here almost 10 yrs and with the help of a monthly "bug guy", no roaches, spiders or bugs cross our doorstep.

I think it also helps that one-too-many encounters with snakes encouraged me to re-landscape around our house with minimal shrubs/palms and replaced the organic mulch with river rocks.

Now, we do have numerous anoles and a few armadillos around, but I love those guys!

 

[DeaverTex]

I grew up in Houston, and my grandparents' house was surrounded by mature pine trees. That house ALWAYS had roaches the size of hummingbirds. We called 'em wood roaches. But you know, when they hit a certain size, they start to develop personalities. It's hard to be horrified at a critter you're pretty certain you've seen before, and have tentatively named. Now, we would still go into the kitchen late at night, switch on the lights, and launch a killing frenzy with shoes, bug spray, fly swatters, and rolled up newspapers, but it was more like doing battle with equals than simple extermination.

If you're going to be put off by large roaches, don't move anywhere that there is high humidity and mature trees, which includes pretty much anywhere along the Gulf Coast.

 

[CDoobee]

I really wanted to move to Florida in about 6-10 years. But now hearing about the "HUGE flying roaches", and a friend having blind snakes (as in more than one...shiver) in her house today, I'm really having to rethink that!

I'm still waiting to hear how friend knew the snakes were blind...were they bumping into walls, or what?!

What about central or northern Florida? Is it any better with the creepy, crawly, flying things??

 

[Southernmiss]

I really wanted to move to Florida in about 6-10 years. But now hearing about the "HUGE flying roaches", and a friend having blind snakes (as in more than one...shiver) in her house today, I'm really having to rethink that!

I'm still waiting to hear how friend knew the snakes were blind...were they bumping into walls, or what?!

What about central or northern Florida? Is it any better with the creepy, crawly, flying things??

Live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Lots of things live down here, but not usually in folks homes. Proper care of your home and a spray for bugs now and then will keep it all outside.

Come on down!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I grew up in Houston, and my grandparents' house was surrounded by mature pine trees. That house ALWAYS had roaches the size of hummingbirds. We called 'em wood roaches. But you know, when they hit a certain size, they start to develop personalities. It's hard to be horrified at a critter you're pretty certain you've seen before, and have tentatively named. Now, we would still go into the kitchen late at night, switch on the lights, and launch a killing frenzy with shoes, bug spray, fly swatters, and rolled up newspapers, but it was more like doing battle with equals than simple extermination.

If you're going to be put off by large roaches, don't move anywhere that there is high humidity and mature trees, which includes pretty much anywhere along the Gulf Coast.

Haven't had ANYTHING like that here, central FL, swamp runs through our property and 1000s of mature trees I feel badly for you but like I said I have seen ONE since 2008 !

I really wanted to move to Florida in about 6-10 years. But now hearing about the "HUGE flying roaches", and a friend having blind snakes (as in more than one...shiver) in her house today, I'm really having to rethink that!
I'm still waiting to hear how friend knew the snakes were blind...were they bumping into walls, or what?!

What about central or northern Florida? Is it any better with the creepy, crawly, flying things??

Majority of FL is swamp land HOWEVER read my answer above...as far as the snakes you're describing I never heard of such a thing I DID have a snake get in about a month ago, I was terrified and trying to sort through a rolodex in my mind as to poisonous or not, we did a dance for about 15 mins I scooped him into a box and threw it out the window...had the sense to open it & push out the screen when I saw it, gotta have a plan ! Turns out it was a " ratter" according to a neighbor which is a GOOD thing I was scared to death for about 2 days When I tossed it it was scared too, took off like a bat out of hell STILL love it here !

Live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Lots of things live down here, but not usually in folks homes. Proper care of your home and a spray for bugs now and then will keep it all outside.
Come on down!

EVERY state, city, village, etc every country on the planet has something that will creep you out...just be prepared & educated, have a plan

View off back deck, glass of wine in hand, heaven on earth...what bugs/snakes?

 

[LisaR]

I really wanted to move to Florida in about 6-10 years. But now hearing about the "HUGE flying roaches", and a friend having blind snakes (as in more than one...shiver) in her house today, I'm really having to rethink that!

I'm still waiting to hear how friend knew the snakes were blind...were they bumping into walls, or what?!

What about central or northern Florida? Is it any better with the creepy, crawly, flying things??

I've lived in FL for nine year now. While I don't love it here and doubt we will retire in this state, I have NEVER had a snake in my home, and I've seen maybe two or three roaches the entire time and they were outside and already dead. It is the south; it is hot down here much of the time. I'm guessing there really are more bugs and other critters here than there are in the northern states. Treating for pests is a must. I could give a long list of reasons to not live in Florida and bugs wouldn't even make the top 100.

 

[KWithers]

I'm a Florida native for 31 years now. I've lived in South, central, and now North Florida. Yes, you will find the occasional pest in your home. This includes roaches, spiders, frogs, lizards, scorpions, snakes, ants..! I have seen all of these at one time or another. They seek out the cool air coming from your house. Just seal everything as good as you can, and apply insecticide around the perimeter of your house.
It really depends on your surroundings, too. If you live in a heavily wooded area, be prepared to experience more frequent visits from these things!