Palmetto bugs

[SewingMom]

We go to Disney every year and for the past 4 we've stayed at the same rental house. I've never seen any bugs at all in the house but this past year I saw 13 Palmetto bugs during our 2 week stay. Yes, I counted - after the seeing first few I began to keep track. Being from northern Illinois, those Palmetto bugs are scary and sure look like cockroaches to me. I asked the owner about this and she said this was normal and that they fly in at night and not to worry. They will die inside within a couple of hours and won't travel home with us.

We love our rental house and the folks who run it and we really want to stay there again next year but I'm terrified of those bugs!

Is this normal? Should I expect this in a rental house? I don't understand why it would have gone from zero bugs to that many in one year - could it be the weather? The house is otherwise very clean and well taken care of. Would you continue to stay or would you look elsewhere?

Thanks!
Laura

 

[DSLRuser]

seasonal and weather related.

take a loot at every decent home in the orlando area. they all have screened in porches because of the bugs.

 

[travelcoupons]

seasonal and weather related.

take a loot at every decent home in the orlando area. they all have screened in porches because of the bugs.

I've lived in Florida for 4 years and never had one of those get in the house.
Depends entirely on the construction of the house & how much you leave the doors open (at night especially) I guess.
The only bugs I have problems keeping out of the house is scorpions. They can flatten themselves out & crawl through the bottom of a closed window (seen them doing it).

 

[spiceycat]

the problem with those bugs is they live outside.

they come inside for food and water - then they go back outside. Which makes them hard to kill.

they are common all over the South. You see them more in drought and believe it or not - when you are having a lot of rain. never understood that one

you can spray outside on all the opening - doors, windows, everything - and all it takes is someone leaving the door open while bring in groceries...

the problem I would have is what is she spraying inside (where you are) that will kill them overnight.

spraying outside to prevent there entry is the way I do it. Don't want anything inside that will kill those things because of my pets.

 

[spiceycat]

The only bugs I have problems keeping out of the house is scorpions. They can flatten themselves out & crawl through the bottom of a closed window (seen them doing it).

now that scares me - how common are scorpions in Florida now Al has spiders - lots them - but scorpions - well only saw one the girl scout camp never in my homes.

 

[Ametista]

I thought "Palmetto bugs" was a euphemism for cockroaches, really. Isn't it? Palmetto bugs are flying roaches. Lookie here:

http://www.orkin.com/cockroaches/difference-between-a-cockroach-and-a-palmetto-bug/

 

[spiceycat]

I thought "Palmetto bugs" was a euphemism for cockroaches, really. Isn't it? Palmetto bugs are flying roaches. Lookie here:

http://www.orkin.com/cockroaches/difference-between-a-cockroach-and-a-palmetto-bug/

yes and no - cockroaches generally live inside.
these monsters (they are definitely bigger) live outside

this is from the univeristy of florida
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig082

never believe a place that makes their living off killing bugs - about bugs

 

[kidshop]

I thought "Palmetto bugs" was a euphemism for cockroaches, really. Isn't it? Palmetto bugs are flying roaches. Lookie here:

http://www.orkin.com/cockroaches/difference-between-a-cockroach-and-a-palmetto-bug/

Yes, they are roaches. They need a better name b/c 3 inch flying roaches are the stuff of nightmares....

They don't infest homes, they wander in. Maybe a door seal is worn and needs to be replaced since you have seen so many.

It's worse when you see one and can't catch it, and don't know where it went. You'll find it someday, huge and shriveled!