If you live in Orlando, Florida, chances are you’ve seen a reddish-brown cockroach dart across your floor at some point. Known as palmetto bugs, American roaches are one of the most common cockroach species in the area.
While they tend to live outdoors, these pests can invade homes in search of food, water, and shelter, leading to a full-blown cockroach infestation if not addressed quickly.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the American cockroach, including where they live, the dangers they pose, and the best ways to keep them out of your home.
Key Takeaways
- American cockroaches are large reddish-brown insects that live outside but invade homes when food, water, or shelter is available.
- They hide in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms, spreading bacteria, triggering allergies, and multiplying quickly under the right conditions.
- Keeping food sealed, fixing leaks, sealing entry points, and reducing outdoor clutter can help keep cockroaches away from your home.
- Baits and sprays help control infestations, but professional pest control is the best way to eliminate them.
What Are American Cockroaches?
The American cockroach is the largest type of cockroach found in Florida homes, measuring between 1.25 to 2.125 inches long. They have long antennae, six legs, and a reddish-brown or dark-brown body with a yellowish figure-eight marking on the back of their head.
Unlike German cockroaches, which prefer indoor environments, they typically live outdoors but will invade homes when conditions are right.
They can fly short distances, but they mainly get around by running. Their nymphs, or juvenile roaches, resemble adults but are smaller and lack fully developed wings.
Where Do American Cockroaches Live?
American cockroaches thrive in damp areas with access to food sources and water sources. In Orlando homes, they often hide in:
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Attics and garages
- Kitchens, pantries, and near pet food
- Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and under sinks
- Sewers and storm drains
Outdoors, they are commonly found in:
- Mulch, leaf litter, and woodpiles
- Under porches and decks
- Near dumpsters and trash bins
Why Are American Cockroaches a Problem?
While these cockroach species don’t bite, they can still pose serious health risks to homeowners.
Disease Transmission
American cockroaches crawl through sewers, garbage, and decaying matter, picking up bacteria like Salmonella. They can contaminate food and surfaces, leading to food poisoning and other illnesses.
Allergens and Asthma Triggers
Their droppings, feces, shed skins, and egg cases contain proteins that trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks, especially in children.
Rapid Reproduction
A single female can produce ootheca, or egg cases, each containing up to 16 eggs. With favorable conditions, a cockroach infestation can get out of control quickly.
How to Prevent an American Cockroach Infestation
To keep your home pest-free, focus on cockroach control with these key strategies:
1. Eliminate Food and Water Sources
To keep American cockroaches out of your home, start by eliminating anything that attracts them.
Store food in airtight containers, wipe down counters, and sweep up crumbs daily to remove easy food sources. Pet food should also be sealed when not in use since roaches will feed on it just like any other food.
Water is just as important to them, so fix leaky pipes, wipe up spills, and remove standing water from sinks and other damp areas.
2. Seal Entry Points
One of the best ways to keep American cockroaches out of your home is to seal off any potential entry points. Start by using caulk to close up crevices and gaps around pipes—roaches can squeeze through even the tiniest openings.
Adding weather stripping under doors helps block their way inside, and covering vents and drains with fine mesh screens keeps them from sneaking in through plumbing or exterior openings.
3. Reduce Outdoor Attractants
Keeping your yard clean and free of clutter is an important step in keeping cockroaches away.
Mulch, woodpiles, and leaf litter should be kept away from your home’s foundation since these materials trap moisture and create the perfect hiding spots for roaches.
Overgrown vegetation should also be trimmed regularly to eliminate shelter and reduce humidity around your home.
Another key step is making sure your trash bins have tight-fitting lids, as exposed garbage is an easy food source for roaches.
4. Use Baits and Sprays for Prevention
Using bait is one of the best ways to eliminate American cockroaches because they take the bait back to their nests, helping to wipe out the entire population. However, sprays should be used carefully.
While they can kill roaches on contact, spraying too much can scatter them, driving them deeper into walls, crawl spaces, and other hidden areas, making the infestation harder to control.
A smart approach is to place baits where roaches are most active and use sprays sparingly for spot treatments when necessary.
When to Call Professional Cockroach Control in Orlando
If you’ve spotted even one American cockroach, there’s a high chance more are hiding nearby. At Rowland Pest Management, we offer expert pest control services to eliminate American roaches and other species like German cockroaches, Asian cockroaches, Australian cockroaches, and Smokybrown cockroaches from your home.
Our professional pest control treatments include:
- A detailed inspection to identify entry points and problem areas
- Baits, sprays, and targeted treatments for long-term pest management
- Sealing off entry points to prevent future infestations
- Follow-up services to ensure your home remains pest-free
Don’t let a cockroach infestation take over your home. Contact us today for a free inspection and let our exterminators handle the problem for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
American cockroaches are a common problem, but many homeowners still have questions about their behavior and habits. Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you understand these pests better.
Do American cockroaches come out during the day?
American cockroaches are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. If you see them during the day, it usually means there is a large infestation, or they have been disturbed from their hiding spots. Seeing one in daylight is a sign that you should take action to control their population before it gets worse.
Can American cockroaches climb walls and ceilings?
Yes, American cockroaches can climb smooth surfaces like walls and ceilings because they have tiny claws that help them grip. They can also move quickly across floors and other surfaces to escape danger. If you see them high up, it’s a sign they are searching for food, water, or a safe hiding place.
How long do American cockroaches live?
American cockroaches can live up to one year, depending on conditions. In that time, they go through several life stages, starting as eggs and growing into adults. Since they reproduce quickly, even a small number of cockroaches can turn into a big infestation if left unchecked.