German cockroach vs. palmetto bug in Florida: how to tell them apart and what DIY control works

Sources last checked: November 15, 2026

In Florida, “palmetto bug” is not one insect. UF/IFAS says the larger cockroaches — American, Australian, brown and smokybrown — are 1¼ to 2 inches long and “are often called palmetto bugs.”¹ The native Florida woods cockroach goes by the same nickname.² The small German cockroach is a different problem. It lives in buildings and can’t survive away from people.³ The big outdoor roaches, by contrast, “do not survive well indoors,” and UF/IFAS says that often, removing them from the house is all the control you need.¹

So identify the roach first. A German cockroach infestation calls for a patient indoor program. A palmetto bug usually calls for sealing gaps and changing the yard.

Quick identification

	German cockroach	American cockroach (a “palmetto bug”)	Florida woods cockroach (a “palmetto bug”)
Adult size	10–15 mm (about ⅜–9/16 in)³	Averages 4 cm (1.5 in), the largest of the common cockroaches around homes⁴	30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long and up to 24 mm (1 in) wide²
Color and markings	Brown to dark brown, with two distinct dark parallel bands running lengthwise on the shield behind the head (the pronotum)³	Reddish brown with a pale brown or yellow band around the edge of the pronotum⁴	Reddish brown to nearly black²
Wings	Adults have wings; nymphs have none but already show the two dark bands³	Males’ wings extend 4–8 mm (about ⅛–⅓ in) past the tip of the abdomen⁴	No developed wings in either sex, only short pads that don’t cover the abdomen²
Where you see it	Usually kitchen and bathroom, but can be anywhere in the house¹	Outdoors in moist, shady spots such as hollow trees, woodpiles and mulch. Sometimes under shingles and in attics, and it wanders indoors for food, water or to escape the weather⁴	Storage areas, greenhouses and pump shelter boxes near the house. An occasional, slow-moving invader, usually carried in on something like firewood²
Breeds indoors?	Yes. It lives only where people do, and it can have several generations a year¹³	Rarely found in houses, though infestations can occur after heavy rain⁴	Not shown to commonly colonize buildings, with limited cases of attic breeding²
Egg case	The female carries it sticking out of her body until just before the eggs hatch. A typical case holds 30–40 eggs³	Dropped near food, sometimes glued to a surface. It holds about 16 eggs and is about 8 mm (⅓ in) long, brown at first and black within a day or two⁴	—

Two more clues:

Florida woods cockroaches can spray. Adults release a defensive secretion that they can aim, reaching anywhere from about 3 cm to 1 meter. That’s why other common names for the species include “Florida stinkroach” and “skunk cockroach.”²
A small “German” roach that flies to your porch light may be an Asian cockroach. UF/IFAS says the Asian cockroach looks very much like the German cockroach, except that it flies. It lives outside, is attracted to building lights, and survives poorly once indoors.¹³

UF/IFAS says a growing German cockroach population is typically about 80 percent nymphs and 20 percent adults.³ So if most of the roaches you find are small, wingless and striped, think German cockroach and read the next section.

Why it’s worth acting

UF/IFAS says cockroaches can spread diseases such as Salmonella. Their feces, shed skins and body parts are allergens that can cause rashes and other allergic reactions, and in extreme cases death from asthma attacks.¹ German cockroaches also contaminate food with their feces and defensive secretions.³ At least 22 species of human pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans) have been isolated from field-collected American cockroaches.⁴

DIY control for German cockroaches (indoors)

UF/IFAS calls integrated pest management (IPM) the most effective way to control cockroaches. Using chemicals alone is the least effective method and “can result in insecticide resistance and, ultimately, very poor control.” Homeowners can run their own IPM plan “with good success.”¹

Monitor. Sticky traps can be used to monitor a population or reduce its size.³ Put them where you see activity and check what they catch.
Clean up the attractant. Vacuuming removes the shed skins and feces that cause cockroach allergies. The feces also contain an aggregation pheromone that draws more cockroaches to the spot, and scrubbing with hot, soapy water reduces it.¹
Cut off water first. UF/IFAS calls water the most important factor in cockroach survival. German cockroaches can survive only 12 days with food but no water, compared with about 42 days with water but no food.¹ Repair plumbing leaks, don’t leave water standing in the sink, empty the condensation pan under the refrigerator, and remember that pet dishes, aquariums and sweating pipes under sinks are water sources too.¹
Remove food. The most cockroaches in a home are usually found around the garbage can and the refrigerator. Leftover food also competes with baits and makes them less effective. Seal garbage lids, wash dishes right after use, keep appliances free of crumbs, reseal opened food, and don’t leave pet food out all the time.¹
Take away hiding places. Adult cockroaches fit into cracks only about 1/16 inch wide and prefer spaces of about ⅜ inch, so seal cracks and crevices. Cockroaches breed prolifically in corrugated cardboard, so throw out unneeded boxes. Check grocery bags before you bring them in.¹ In apartments that share a wall, cockroaches can travel between units through the plumbing, so caulk holes in common walls and around pipes.¹
Use baits, not sprays, as the main treatment. UF/IFAS says baits are “most highly recommended” because they are effective and targeted and they reduce unnecessary pesticide exposure.¹ Its guidance:
- Use small bait stations for German cockroaches.
- Put gel bait in cracks and crevices, but not in food-handling areas.
- Never spray a liquid insecticide where baits are placed, because it repels cockroaches from the bait.
- Check baits monthly until the population drops, then quarterly.
- Replace empty stations, since an empty station becomes another hiding place.¹
Consider an insect growth regulator (IGR). IGRs take four to six weeks to make a noticeable difference, but control lasts longer because exposed cockroaches can no longer reproduce. Signs of exposure include twisted wings on adults. Seeing more cockroaches during the day after using an IGR means it’s working, and IGRs can be used together with baits.¹
Dust hidden voids, not open surfaces. Boric acid is probably the most commonly used dust labeled for cockroaches, and it works best in clean, dry areas. Apply a thin film with a duster under refrigerators, stoves and sinks, in wall voids and in other cracks. Never apply it on shelves or counters where food and utensils are kept. Boric acid is highly toxic to plants and discolors some fabrics.¹

Skip the fogger. UF/IFAS says a fogger only affects the cockroaches that the fog directly touches, so control from foggers is variable.¹ Cockroaches spend the day in dark, sheltered spots such as cracks, the backs of drawers and the insides of cabinets.¹

DIY control for palmetto bugs (large outdoor roaches)

One roach indoors isn’t an infestation. Outdoor cockroaches don’t survive well indoors, and removing them is often all that’s needed.¹ American cockroaches move indoors from sewers through the plumbing, and from trees and shrubs beside the house or branches hanging over the roof.⁴
Seal the way in. Caulk gaps around door and window frames and where plumbing and electrical lines enter the house. Add weather stripping between doors and their frames, and keep window and soffit screens repaired. Screen or seal attic vents and large openings around drain lines and sewer vents. Tightly packed steel wool works as a temporary filler until you can seal a gap properly.¹
Change the mulch. The large outdoor cockroaches breed prolifically in pine straw mulch and poorly in gravel or on bare soil.¹ UF/IFAS says an IPM approach can reduce outdoor cockroaches by 80 percent or more. That approach starts with only a thin layer of mulch in a band reaching 1 foot out from the foundation, which lets the area dry out.¹
Remove harborage. Stack firewood off the ground and well away from the house, trim shrubs back from the walls, and fill tree holes with cement. Ivy is a favorite breeding place for outdoor cockroaches.¹
Bait outdoors. Use large bait stations for the larger outdoor cockroaches, and apply granular bait outside in plant beds and mulched areas.¹ UF/IFAS calls loose, toxic pellet baits “extremely effective” against American cockroaches.⁴
Treat the perimeter only as the label allows. A perimeter treatment along the base of the foundation, in cracks and at entry points can help control the larger cockroaches, and UF/IFAS recommends sealing cracks before you spray.¹ It suggests treating within 3 feet of the home in pine straw, fallen leaves or ivy, and in sheltered spots such as porch corners and under garage doors. You can use baits or liquids, but not both at the same time in the same place. Always follow the label.¹
Leave the natural enemies alone where you can. Several parasitic wasps lay their eggs in American cockroach egg cases, which keeps the nymphs from emerging. Insecticide sprays may kill these wasps too.⁴

Pesticide label safety (EPA)

The EPA says the most effective way to reduce pesticide risks is to control pests without chemicals first: remove food and water sources such as leaky pipes, and destroy shelters and breeding sites.⁵ If you do use a product:

Read the label first and follow it “to the letter,” including all precautions and restrictions.⁵ The label explains how to use and store the product safely and gives first-aid instructions and phone numbers for help.⁶
Use it only for pests listed on the label, and no more than the label says. “Don’t think that twice the amount will do twice the job.”⁵
Protect yourself as the label directs, for example with impermeable gloves, long pants and long sleeves. Change clothes and wash your hands right after applying.⁵
Clear the area. Before applying any pesticide, remove children, toys and pets, and keep them away until the product has dried or for as long as the label says. Remove or cover food when treating indoors.⁵ For indoor sprays, UF/IFAS adds three rules: never spray into or around electrical outlets, avoid food-preparation surfaces, and don’t touch treated surfaces until they’re dry (at least 4 hours).¹
Outdoors, don’t spray on windy or rainy days. Keep the product from drifting or running off into a vegetable garden, a pool or a neighbor’s yard.⁵
Keep products in their original containers. The EPA calls putting them in food or beverage containers “very dangerous,” because children think something in a familiar bottle is safe to drink.⁶ UF/IFAS says to store pesticides out of reach of children and pets, preferably under lock and key.¹
Buy only what you need, and never pour leftovers down the drain.⁵⁶ For leftovers, check whether your community runs a household hazardous waste collection. If it doesn’t, follow the label and any state or local disposal rules.⁵
Keep the Poison Control number handy: 1-800-222-1222.⁵ Have the product label with you when you call.⁶

When to hire a professional

UF/IFAS notes that professionals have the equipment and training to do a thorough job, along with products that homeowners can’t buy, and suggests getting estimates from several reputable firms.¹ In Florida, check the license first. FDACS warns that most unlicensed operators don’t carry insurance and might use an agricultural pesticide indoors. Licensed pest control businesses get a numbered license each year, and the number begins with “JB.” Service vehicles must be permanently marked on both sides with the business name. You can check a license online or call FDACS at (850) 617-7997.⁷

UF/IFAS Extension, ENY-214 / IG082: Cockroaches and Their Management (Koehler, Bayer & Branscome; reviewed 02/2025; opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers which roaches are called palmetto bugs; outdoor roaches surviving poorly indoors; the Asian cockroach; egg cases and generations; where roaches hide; IPM and resistance; disease and allergens; water, food, harborage and exclusion steps; baits, IGRs, sprays, dusts and foggers; the outdoor IPM approach (thin mulch, 80% reduction, 3-foot treatment zone); and pesticide precautions. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
UF/IFAS Featured Creatures, EENY-514 / IN915: Florida Woods Cockroach (AKA Palmetto Bug), Eurycotis floridana (C. S. Bibbs & R. W. Baldwin; reviewed 12/2024; opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers common names, including palmetto bug; size and color; absence of flight wings; where it occurs and how it gets indoors; limited indoor colonization; and its defensive spray. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
UF/IFAS Featured Creatures, EENY-002 / IN128: German Cockroach, Blattella germanica (S. Valles; revised December 2024; opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers adult size and pronotum bands; nymphs; egg case and egg count; inability to survive away from humans; the 80% nymph / 20% adult ratio; confusion with the Asian cockroach; medical significance; and sticky traps, sanitation and exclusion. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
UF/IFAS Featured Creatures, EENY141 / IN298: American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana (K. A. Barbara; revised November 2024; opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers size, color and wing length; outdoor habitats; rarely infesting houses except after heavy rain; migration through plumbing and from trees; the egg case; pathogens isolated; parasitic wasps; and pellet baits. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. EPA, Pesticide Safety Tips (opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers non-chemical control first; reading and following the label; label pests and amounts; protective clothing; keeping children and pets away; covering food; wind, rain and drift; leftovers and household hazardous waste; and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. EPA, Read the Label First! Protect Your Household (PDF, EPA 740-F-15-006) (opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers what labels tell you; original containers; not pouring products down the drain; buying the right amount; and having the label with you when you call for help. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “How do I know if a pest control company is licensed?” (opened Nov 15, 2026). Covers the risks of unlicensed operators; JB license numbers; vehicle markings; and online verification or calling (850) 617-7997. ↩︎