Cockroach Control in Parkland

Most Parkland roach calls fall into two groups. The first is the big outdoor roaches that people here call palmetto bugs. They live in mulch, leaf litter, palm trees and storm drains, and they walk in under a door or through the garage at night. UF/IFAS lists the Australian cockroach as the most common outdoor cockroach in southern Florida, and says it may come inside and live among people.

The second group is the German cockroach. It's small, tan, and lives indoors, usually in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you're seeing small roaches in daylight, or several sizes at once, that's a breeding population and it won't fix itself.

Signs to look for

A large roach in the garage or on the bathroom floor at night
Small tan roaches behind the fridge, dishwasher or microwave
Pepper-like droppings in cabinet corners and drawers
Egg cases tucked into hinges and cabinet edges
A musty, oily smell in a cabinet

Palmetto bugs: keep them outside

For the big roaches, the work is mostly outside. Door sweeps, screened weep holes, sealed gaps around pipes, and a treated band around the foundation and garage keep most of them out. Thick mulch against the house and piles of palm fronds give them a place to live right next to the door.

Pool cages and lanais attract them too, since the lights draw insects in at night. Mention it if you're finding them out by the pool.

Seeing this at your place? Call (954) 555-0108

German roaches: a kitchen job

German roaches need a different plan. Baits in the hinges and cracks where they hide, growth regulators, and a careful look behind every appliance. Over-the-counter foggers tend to scatter them deeper into the walls. A tech will usually come back to check progress.

Your part matters here. Clean grease off the stove sides, take out trash every night, fix that drip under the sink, and don't leave dishes or pet food out. Cardboard boxes from the store can carry them in, so unpack and toss those quickly.

Install door sweeps on garage entry and exterior doors
Keep mulch thin near the slab and rake up palm debris
Fix leaks under sinks and around the water heater
Store food in sealed containers

Condos and townhomes

If you're in a building with shared walls, roaches can come from next door. Let your association know, and tell the provider when you call. Treating one unit alone sometimes isn't enough.

Questions people ask

Does seeing one big roach mean I'm infested?

Not necessarily. Outdoor roaches wander in. Seeing small roaches regularly, especially in daytime, is the bigger warning.

Are palmetto bugs a different insect?

Palmetto bug is a local nickname for several big roaches, including the Florida woods cockroach and others.